New-York tribune., 1899-04-16
NAVAL STUDENTS ABROAD.
THE DEPARTMENT TO REVIVE THE
PRACTICE OF SENDING CADETS TO
EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS

Navy had decided to abandon the course Of in
struction in naval architecture at the Naval
Academy not unexpected among officers
at the Navy Yard yesterday In fact this con-
cluson was inevitable as soon as Congress de-
cided TO strike out the appropriation for the
continuance Of the course. that body believing
that the departments established at Cornell Uni
versity. under Professor Thurston, an ex-en-
gineer Of the Navy. and for years at the head
Of Stevens Institute; the one at Harvard Uni
versity. under Ira n. Hollis an ex-eDgneer Of
the Navy and that at the Massachusetts, Insti-
tute Of Technology would be ample The Navy
Department intends to send the cadet candi-
dates for the Construction Corps to the Euro
pean institutions, thus re-establishing practice
that continued many years. Until few years
ago. when the Royal Naval College at Green
wich. England. and the Ecoe Maritime at
Paris discontinued the privileges to students
from the United States because of the 1eaousies
growing out Of the fact that the American boys
so often carried off the first honors. The first
instance Of this kind was Cadet David w. Tay-
lor who No. l in the Naval Academy class
OF 1881, and No l in the class at the Royal
Naval College in 1886
Prior TO 1879 the officers OF the Construction
Corps of the Navy were appointed from civil
life. and the present Chief Of Bureau Commo-
dore Philip Hichborn, was an appointee from
civil life. The other four officers Of that corps
below him were appointed from civil life, while
Constructor Francis T. Bowles now attached TO
the Brooklyn Navy Yard, stands at the top of
the list OF those graduated from the Naval
Academy, who took the special course after
ward to qualify them Tor the Construction
Corps The detail for special instruction in
naval architecture abroad is considered one of
the highest horors that be conferred upon
a naval cadet; IL is a recognition of his superior
abilities and fitness for entering the most ad-
vanced technical corps, and those selected
the graduates who stand the highest in their
final examination
It was many years ago that the Royal Naval
College opened it's doors to two young men from
each nation to take o course In naval archi-
lecture 1t was not until 1879, however that
the United States took advantage Of this invi-
tation when Cadet Francis T. Bowles and
Richard Gatewood who had led their respective
graduating classes at Annapolis. were selected
for the pioneer course at Greenwich Mr..
Bowles was at that time a cadet engineer.
They took the two years course and then re-
turned to the United States and were commits
stoned as naval constructors. At that time the
students who went abroad to take the course
were compelled to be at considerable personal
expense for the privilege. estimated at about
81 200 year above the salary received from the
Navy A few years later it was found that the
courses in naval science at the Ecole Maritime
Paris and the Glasgow University were nearly
equal TO that a: the Royal Naval College. AMI
like privileges were obtained from those insti-
tutions Cadets Joseph H. Lnnard and Joseph
J. Woodward were sent to the Paris institution
In 1883. and Cadets Lewis Nixon. at present the
proprietor of the Crescent Shipyards. Elizabeth
port ~ j. and w. II Shock were sent TO the
Roval Naval College All of them stood high in
their classes and at the end OF two years were
commissioned as naval constructors.
In 1885 Cadets Taylor and Armistead were
sent to the Royal Naval College, and Cadets
Rexter. Capps and Hewes were sent to the
Glasgow University. From that time until a
few years ago cadets of the Naval Academy
were sent regularly to the three institutions to
take the course Naval Constructor Richmond
p Hobson. the hero of the Merrmac, was an
associate student at .he Ecoe Maritime With
Constructor Hibbs. and became constructor IN
July 1891 There have been many or this ciass
OF students who subsequently resigned from the
Navy TO ACCEPT places in civil lie az douole
,,r rreh,e the salary paid by the Government.
Whom Mr. Nixon rendered his resignation in
1901 to enter the employment Of the Cramps al
81 200 a year Secretary Tracy protested. TAX
ing the ground that If he was worth SIJoo
wear in civil life he was worth that much 10
the Government General Tracy reco1sidered
his protest and permitted Mr. Nixon to resign |
and there was more justice in permitting him |
70 leave the service under the conditions pre-
sented than TO permit those who were graduated
euhseouent to 1886 for in that year the Govern |
ment arranged to pay all the expenses OF the |
s,rdents for their education while abroad and |
,ooda an EXTRA allowance OF $40 month for |
their home expenses
The first OF the American colleges to make an |
annex or School Of Marine Engineering ana |
Naval Architecture was Cornell University un- |
aar Professor Thurston. 1t was formed In 1871
but no appointments were made till September
1901 when Professor ". F. Durand, an ex-en-
yineer of the Navy. was appointed principal.
rhis was followed by the appointment OF several
assistants The intention was TO lay oroao
foundation in general theory ana underyihs
,rinciple and 10 give a large amount OF pracu-
"a, annlication through lectures. textbook work.
,,a,as NJ modern design and inspection tours
by designs OF an originai chaiao-
ar rr~psred under the instructors supervisor.
rb,a course was calculated TO turn out hish
,rade OF professional men
->-
~. Must Be the one--"I read to-day" said Mrs,
ska