The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-09-15
MORE Time FOR Study
Recommendations Concerning
the Naval Academy.
VISITING BOARD REPORTS
An Obligatory Post Graduate Course
Service-The General Plan of the
Proposed New Buildings Is Ap-
proved.

The Navy Department yesterday made
public the report of the board of visitors
to the Naval Academy.
The board met at Annapolis on May
so and organized with the following
members: Representative S. G. Hilborn,
Representative Irving p Wagner. Charles
Z. Munroe, Charles K. Wheeler, A. Bah
cock, Edward c. Hinman, John l.. Lamp
son, James Philips, jr.; II. E. Sadier,
John NJ. Boyer. Representative Hilborn
was elected president; Mr.. Charles E.
Munroe, of Washington, D. c.. vice presi-
dent, and Lieut.. c. NJ Stone, u. S. N,
secretary.
The following recommendations are
made by the board:
First-That the appointment of candi
dates be made by July of the year pre-
ceding their examination for admission in
order 10 permit them 10 lie more ,ful Y pre-
pared.
Second-That those cadets who pass into
the line and engineer corps be required.
on the completion of their first three
years cruise, TO return to the academy and
pursue two years course of advanced
studies in either ordinances marine engi-
neering. or electrical engineering.
Third-That the department. of seaman
ship be provided with a set of models of
modern men-of-war. one of each type.
Fourth-That the department of steam
engineering be supplied with modern tools
and machinery.
Fifth-That the board approves of the
general plan for the rebuilding of the
academic buildings and believes that If
it be faithfully carried out the result will
be beiitting the dignity of this great ma
ton.
Sixth-That a continuing annual appro-
priation be made for rebinding in half or
full morocco, valuable books in the Ii
brary.
Seventh-That the efficiency of the board
of visitors will be increased by the ap-
pointment of a portion of the board for
two or more terms so that at least por
ton Of tlle board may be familiar with the
duties which the board is expected TO per
form.
The committee on the conditions of ad-
missions to the academy strongly adyO-
cate such a standard of scholarship as
test of admission as can be acquired at
the public schools, instead of raising II
TO a point attainable only to those boys
who have the advantage of a college
course On this important subject the re-
port says:
THE committee finds that while large
number of applicants for admission have
had the benefit OF instruction In secondary
schools. the branches on which they are
examined are such only as are not taught
in the common schools. and the Naval
Academy course begins where the com
mon school course usually ends
Academic branches and drills occupy
the cadets for three years. and the strict
w fpS &c IA q
most part in the fourth year. Here the
instruction given by the academy ceases,
although the cadet returns after two
years at sea and Is examined upon the
studies pursued and work done by him
while afoat.
I'm view of the rapid change and devel
opment of modern naval construction and
warfare, and the rapidly increasing de-
partments of knowledge in which a COM
petent naval officer must nowSbe an adept
in view also of the number of years taken
by our chronological schools in educating
in civil life, the men beside whom our Off
GERS must work and with whom they must
be compared, it is evident that an in
creasing amount of time should now be
provided for the instruction of our naval
officers. But how shall this be done? The
standard for admission might be raised
but our people seem 10 have determined
that every boy should have chance to
enter the military and naval academies.
and only the common schools are within
| the reach of large majority of our sons.
Still more, the best seamen have all
( taken to the water young, and the drills
and vigorous discipline which are needed
. TO put the cadets into shape are most
effective in the years of age between
fifteen and twenty Indeed, It is doubt
cbn
be carried much beyond the age of
twenty, and the navy should have con-
troll of its boys before the average age
of high school graduates
Again, We might iengthen the present
course from four to six years, abolishing
; the two years as a cadet at sea, which
every one now comedies has outIived its
usefulness. But instruction at the acad-
emy goes fast. and rightly. The COM
! mander must learn to see at a glance
10 read as he runs. The leisurely, Iii
Sestive, critic-producing methods of the
university are cut of place here Unity
; and solidarity not individuality are the
needs of the situation. Four years of
this rushing, accompanied throughout by
: the vigorous and necessary discipline are
all that the service seems to REQUIRE or
/ that the young officer will cheerful!y
undergo.
1T remains only to add postgraduate te
course obligatory on all officers and this
! being made freely elective and allied
more closely to university methods.
might welcome at the end of the first
! cruise of three years, when, after some
experience of the service and with more
maturity, the young officer could select
those branches in which he felt himself
to be deficient or for which he had 6is-
| covered a natural bent
Time for this additional work might
be obtained by relieving the department
| OF the necessity of detailing young Off
| GERS to many positions which are chiefly