Evening star., 1905-08-27

number of 1872 will remain in Washington
until Tuesday morning, when they will
start back to Annapolis. They have been
away from the Academy since early in
June, and during the three months they
have spent on the monitors and other ves-
sells of the coast squadron they have been
given opportunity to witness the practical
demonstration of many of the theories they
have been studying for the past four years.
The cadets spent Friday at Indian Head.
where they were shown through the gov
ernment proving ground and the powder
magazines. The entire day was consumed in
visiting the various shops at the proving
grounds. The start for Washington was
made yesterday morning at = o'clock and
the three monitors arrived at the navy yard
dock about 10 o'clock. The cadets were i'm
mediately sent ashore and were first taken
to the shop where the breech mechanism
is made. Under the direction of the superin-
tendent of the gun factory, Capt. Pendle-
ton, and his assistants. together with the
foremen of the various sections OF the
shop, the young men were thoroughly IN
formed as to the manner of constructing the
gun breeches All this work had been gone
over in theory at the Naval Academy and
II was to show the future admirals the
practical demonstrations of these mechan-
ical theories that the trip to this city was
ordered
Made Tour of the City.
The cadets remained In the shops about
two hours and a half yesterday, returning
to the ships for luncheon at ! o'clock.
In the afternoon they were given leave
for ten hours and every man of them left
the ships and visited points of interest In
the city and last night number of them
were entertained at various places. They
will be again given short liberty today.
and tomorrow they will devote the entire
time 10 the gun shops. going over all the
details of the manufacture of heavy ord
nance Tuesday morning the monitors Will
depart for Annapolis and will arrive at that
place Wednesday morning. After reporting
at the Naval Academy the cadets Will be
given leave of absence until about the
first of October.
The cruise of the naval cadets this sum
mer the officers in charge state. has been
one of the most instructive in the history
of the Academy. They embarked on the
coast squadron under command OF Rear Ad-
miral Dickins at Annapolis June s. and
from the 10th to the 18th participated In
the joint army and navy exercises against
the fortfica tions of the artillery districts
of the Potomac, Chesapeake and Baltimore
During this period the cadets were given
an oportunity to observe the conditions
that would prevail In actual warfare and
they had a chance to take some part In the
various fortifcations.
Ship Construction Observed
The week following the exercises they
where they were given ample time to OBJ
serve the process of building war vessels
and the other shipbuildng work that Is
carried on at the Newport News plant.
From Newport News the fleet sailed north,
where the cadets participated in the feet
exercises of the North Atlantic squadron
and observed the target practice. After
this they went to Newport, r. l.. and were
given course in torpedo work. From there
the cadets were taken to Indian Head and
came from there to this city.
All the important cities on the Atlantic
coast north of Norfolk were visited during
the cruise and the cadets were thoroughly
instructed in the practical details of their
profession, as far as was practicable in
the short time given. At first they were
distributed among the ships of the coast
squadron. but during the latter part of
the cruise they were all placed on the
three monitors. as these vessels were of
draught that permitted them to visit all
of the cities and naval stations 1t was
desired to bring under observation.
During the three months the young men
have been on the cruise there has been but
one incident to mar the enjoyment of the
cruise. This occurred shortly after the
midshipmen were embarked, when one of
the members of the class. stationed on the
cruiser Newark was drowned while in
bathing in the Chesapeake bay. Aside