Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-15
TO STOP HAzING
At ANNAPOLIS
AUTHORITIES WILL ADOPT
RADICAL MEANS
Two Mdshlpmen VIII Be Dismissed
Soon-AdmiraI Sands Summoned
to Washington for a
Conference
BY Associated Press.

WASHINGTON. Dec. A-Hazing Of
every KIND. 1t was announced today,
would 0e stamped out of the naval
academy, regardless of the number of
dismissals from the brigade Of mid
shipmen necessary to bring about this
result. Two midshipmen will be dis
missed from the academy within a few
DAYS by the secretary Of the navy, one
for hazing and the other for counten-
anclng 1t by failure while on duty to
report the occurrence. Other dismiss
sails Will follow as often as midshipmen
are found guilty of hazlng or counten-
ancing it, Aroused by the condition OF
affairs which reports show to exist at
the academy SO far as the treatment
of fourth class men is concerned, Sec
retary Bonaparte late this afternoon
telephones to Rear Admiral James II.
Sands, superintendent of the academy,
a request to come to Washington as
soon as possible for a conference. This
conference will lie held tomorrow, Ad-
miral Sands arriving here on an early
train from Annapolis. 1t will he the
initial step in new and vigorous
campaign to be waged at Annapolis
against hazing.
Admiral Sands will have the unquali-
fled support of the navy depart emnt in
retary Bonaparte today announced
that the admiral possessed the full con-
fidence of the officials here in his abil
ity to handle the situation to the entire
satisfaction of the department.
Congressional Investigations of the
conditions at the academy have already
been proposed in a resolution intro
duced in the house by Representative
Loud Of Michigan.
Briefly these are todays develop
ments in the movement against hazing
at the naval academy.
When Secretary Bonapartc reached
the navy department today he received
an official report from Admiral Sands
announcing the suspension of Midship-
man Trenmore Coffin, jr., third class
man, for hazing Midshipman Jerdone
Pettus Kimbrough, fourth class man,
by forcing him to stand on his head
until he became unconscious, and of
Midshiplnan Warren a. NanderVere,
second class man, because while on
duty he observed the occurrence and
failed to report it. The superintendent
called attention to the fact that Mid
shipmeu Coffin and VanderVere We're
guilty of violating q well known reSu-
lGtion of the acamedy. and recommend"
ed their summary dismissal in accord
anCe with an act OF congress approved
March 8, 1903.
Secretary Bonaparte this morning
had conference with Rear Admiral
Converse, chief of the bureau of naVi-
CATION, and a plan of campaign was
mapped out. 1t was first decided that
the law was mandatory and that the
recommendation of the superintendent
would soon be approved and the two
cadets summarily expelled. Meantime
however the secretary wishes to obtain
from the attorney general an opinion
regarding certain phases of the case
which, while exceedingly important,
will not affect, it is understood, his
final action approving the recommen-
dation for summary expulsion.
No secret was made at the navy de-
partment of the determination of the
officials to make short shrift of hazing,
running and all such practices at the
academy. If necessary, ii is under
stood, the president will be appealed to
to veto any bill that may be passed by
congress providing for the reinstate-
nent of midshipmen expelled for haz-
ing or countenancing it.