Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-01-09
DEATH OF Ex-cov. LowNDEs

The sudden death of Ex-Governor
Lloyd Lowndes, which occurred at
his home in Cumberland yesterday,
was great shock to his many friends
in this city, where he is so well and
favorably known. In the death OF
Governor Lowndes the state loses one
Of its most valued and esteemed citi-
zens, his family devoted husband
and father, and the community at
large a benefactor and a Christian
gentleman. Few men in public and
private life were more highly esteem
cd for their many virtues of character
than OK Governor Lowndes. and his
death is not only loss 10 his family,
but to his state, over which he so
ably presided as IFS chief executive.
THE AcADEMY's REQUIREMENTS
There are men in the American
navy who can recall the time when
gray haired midshipmen were found
in the service. In those days advance
meut was slow aud uncertain aud few
men had the opportunity OF forging to
the front. In those days, too, gradu
ates from the Naval Academy spent
six TO eight years on sea duty as mid
saipmen before they could secure pro-
motion. Then the problem presented
was to keep the number of graduates
from Annapolis down to the needs Of
the service. Now the situation is re-
versed. The demand for men to man
the ships of the new navy outstrips
the available supply.
The result has been the development
Of sentiment for the reduction Of
the course at Annapolis TO three years.
II will be remembered that at the out
break of the Spanish American war
young men of the graduating class
were pressed into service, TO receive
their diplomas later. 1t would be I'M
fortunate if this precedent and the
present needs of the navy should lead
60 the ourtailment of the we'll round
ed course at the naval school In the
old days battleship did not mean
what il does today, consequently there
is more to be learned by the naval
student now than ever before. This
is true not only with regard TO the
ship itself. but of every phase of ma
val equipment and operations.
The demand for briefer training is
based entirely upon the demand for
men Co officer the new ships which are
being turned out at the government
aud private yards in accordance with
the naval program adopted several
years ago. The older officers of the
line regret the present tendency to
lessen the time requirement for grad.
uation at Annapolis and view with as
much ceoncern the system of rapid
promotion now in vogue. Instead of
spending six or eight years in sea
duty before securing his first advance,
the naval graduate of today goes to
sea possibly for six months and then
is recalled to do duty at some land
station In any case, he is assured OF
rapid promotion through the lower
grades Of the line, and finds himself
in place of responsible command
with inadequate experience of its
duties. 1t will not require many years
of the present system to place large
percentage of the immensely costly
ships of the new navy under the COM
mand of men with hardly more than
tithe of the practical knowledge
which .was required of commanders
under the old regime.
The policy of retrenohment in naval
expenditures, if carried far enough,
would serve TO correct in q measure
the rush of men into the service and
ON up the line. 1t would be the part
of wisdom for the navy department to
devote the present yaer to the compile
tion of the vessels now under aonstruc-
ton, work on which is crowding the
government and private shipyards to
the limit OF their capacity. This
course would permit the relation of
supply and demand of officers for the
ships to become more nearly normal.
At the present rate of construction
ten years from now will find the aver
age of ability in the American navy
appreciably lowered, BY no means
should the course at Annapolis be
shortened. BY all means should there
be cessation of the giving of new
contracts for ships provided for in the
naval program until the needs of the
service can be met without sacrificing
in any measure its high conditions, if
such is the alternative course. Bal
timore Herald.