The Washington times., 1904-08-24
AIDDIES VIEW
THE NAVY YARD
Those on Arkansas storm"
and Capture Works.
A BUSY MORNING FOR THEM
Summer Cruises for First Class Men of
Naval Academy Supplementing
Their School Training.
A BUSY MORNING FOR THEM

Forty-three embryo admirals, fresh
from the sea. stormed the navy yard
stronghold this morning and captured
enough information TO put any belliger-
ent nation out Of business.
The storming party was in charge of
Lieutenant Russell, ~ the monitor Ar
kansas. He led the attack. A steam
launch brough' the party from FERNS
wharf, whore the Arkansas is at an
Choir.
The party was met by a detachment Of
''bluetackets'' from the Marine Bar
racks. Preparations for battle were be
gun early in the morning. The tackles
were stripped for action. and as the
enemy" approached within firing dis
lance, the first 'brOadsider' was let
loose. II landed in the ear Of Lieuten-
ant Russell. and as the report died away
he cried:
AT them. boys. They are ours"
And they were. The shot fired by the
marines contained a flag Of truce and an
invitation to inspect the navy yard for
tifications, the gun factory. the shops,
and every part and division Of the great
gUnmaking institution.
Middies Follow Leader.
The "middies" followed their intrepid
leader, and a "solree'' was made upon
the commandments quarters. After the
fort" was formally turned over to
Lieutenant Russell. an attack was
made upon the repair shop. the cartridge
factory, the model room and the gun
shop
The enthusiasm OF the boys" knew
no bounds They climbed over the bis
guns. fOndled the little ones, and tried
their strength on the middle-siZed ones
They took turns at sighting" There
didn't happen to be a, Ything at which
r. sight but that made no differ
On se-they sighted" just the same
"They stood behind the big messengers
OF death, squatted down so that the
eye almost touched the gun, waved the
hand 10 port or "starboard'' and
shouted:
Then they fal back a pace or two
strain I'd theif eY~S TO see where the
shot" landed. Anh realizing that II
fell among a sfevii o. Interested and
That was a = Cd one. Now let u:
board her"
Trip Through Factory.
This meant = tour Of the cartridge
factory. the model shop. and the va
rious departments o. the navy YARD
works. The boys showed a great
zeal OF interest IN eNtTgl ullB Nney IN
spected, and listened with marked at
tentiOn 10 the explanations given by
Lieutenant Russell and the experts
from the different factories. who wer,
detailed to explain the workings anC
uses OF the various war implements.
A further inspection OF the navy yarC
will be made tomorrow. and on Friday
the boys" viii be given the freedom
OF the city. or, in other words, shore
leave. Friday night Lieutenant Russell
will report to Captain Vreeland. com
manding the Arkansas, that the mis-
sion is finished. and the Arkansas vii
then steam down the river and Join Ad
miral Sands at the mouth Of the Pc
tomac.
The monitors Nevada and Florida ar,
now with the admiral. and are waitinl
The arrival of the Massachusetts anC
Hartford. These ships carry grea
many frst-class midshipmen. When thel
arrive the Nevada and Florida will eacl
take detachment Of the boys" ant
will give them the same outing a.
hat giver the first-class midshipmen o
the Arkansas. When this is finished
tho entire fleet will return to the Nava
Academy. where the ''middies" will dis
embark, having finished their summe