The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-08-28
The Hour Of Rest When Reading EnteTtan-
The Ships Each Have a Mascot and There
Is Lots of Fun With These Extra
Members of the Crew.

/ Of officers and midshipmen on the globe.
Speaking of the "rniddies,'' there were
a hundred or more OF Uncle Sans flu
ture ldmirals in Washington last week.
and he is just recovering from the
shock
They came. they saw, they conquer
cd" is the way some of those who
met the "middies'-especiaIly the ladies
are expressing their views on the visit
Of the gallant young Naval Academy
first class men last week. while others
who felt inclined to strike up the band"
on the appearance Of the great fleet Of
man-o'-warsmen on the water front, are
now wondering what It was all about,
and whether all OF Uncle Sans young
officers are wont TO cut up such larks
as they heard tell about" when the
middies were making use Of their shore
leave.
Good Time at Capital.
Even an Admiral Dewey, in embryo
when he is just about twenty-one years
Of age. has a couple Of jolly good fellows
with him. no cares to think about, and
shore leave in the Capital Of the Nation.
will let himself loose and run free for
the occasion. There was not the slight
: est disorder. among the cadets. however
They were a thoroughly gentIemanly,
well-disciplined set. and they made
many friends during their brief stay.
Strictly speaking the midshipmen had
very little time for Celebrating during
their visit here. for the reason that
they were extremely busy.
On Wednesday forty-three OF the
young admirals fresh from the monitor
Arkansas stormed the Washington navy
yard. and obtained enough information
about the big guns there and the work
ing Of the factory to last them for many
a day. Later similar expeditions were
made by midshipmen from the Florida
and the Nevada. both OF which ships
brought large consignments Of cadets
fresh from the sea to visit the main
points of interest in the Capital
All Over Town.
Sunbrowned, alert, and athletic. the
middies were to be seen in all parts
Of the city. Wearing their trim blue
uniforms and carrying themselves with
the Characteristic swing Of one OF Uncle
Sans fighters. they walked the streets
with an air OF cool self-confdence that
at once marked them out, even among
many other older naval and army off,
GERS in whom Washington abounds.
This IS the first time that Washing
ton has ever had so many Of the mid
shipmen within her gates at the same
time. II Is. in fact. the first time the
summer cruise Of the cadets. which is an
) annual affair. has ever included this city
as one Of the objective points. Hereto
fore there has been some objection
among naval officers 10 allowing all the
first class men TO inspect the gun fac
tory located here. A definite reason for
this objection has never been ascertain
cd unless il was thought not prudent 70
give information about the factory TO so
many men, some OF whom might never
enter the navy.
Danger Of Grounding.
Further il has always been difficult for
any Of Uncle Sans ships Of any depth
to make their way up the river this far.
Heretofore It has been the custom to
bring all the members Of the Engineer
Corps at the Academy for a personal
; inspection Of the gun factory works.
while the other midshipmen were given
the continuous practice Of the cruise
in the actual handling OF guns and OF
ships
The summer cruise OF the cadets be-
gan this year on June 2 At that time
. a squadron under command OF Rear Ad-
miraI Sands took on board 500 Of tho
cadets who were distributed throughout
the squadron. the ships Of which were as
follows:
, Battleships Massachusetts and Texas
monitors Arkansas, Florida. and Ne
vada, the torpedo boats Lawrence, Mac
donough, TruNtun. Whipple. Worden
, Hopkins, Hull and the training shll
Hartford. the latter OF which WAS Ad
mlral Farraguts old flagship.
First Target Practice.
Shortly after taking the cadets OF
board the squadron steamed into
Chesapeake Bay, where many of the
: young sailors for the first time were
initiated into the mysteries OF target
practice. The roaring OF the big guns
and the swift and unerring maneuvers
of the ships gave the boys" as many
Of them were. a wonderfully vivid rep
, resentation Of actual conflict. IL was
but their first taste however. OF the
strenuous training that was 20 follow.
Every day there was something new
for the young midshlpmen 20 learn
p There were drills every day from
: sunrise to almost sunset, and then the
cadets went TO bed with tired limbs
too exhausted probably even to dream