The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-12
WHAT IS WRONG?
Why Do Kansas Boys Fail at
Annapolis?
State Entitled to 90, Has But
Seven Students.
MANY TRY FOR PLACES
But Nearly All Find Test Too
Severe.
An Interview With One Who
Didn't "Flunk."

Roy S. Slower, of lola, son of Tim
Slower, is in Topeka today on his way
home to lola for a months leave from
his duties at the United States naval
academy.
1.-The navy" said Mr.. Slower. lis in
great need of more officers. There is
plenty of opportunity for anybody to
get into the official life of the navy if
he will work and has the ability.
There are only seven Kansans in
the naval academy now, and the state
is entitled to twenty appointments. the
trouble is that as fast as men are APP
pointed they fall down in their examln-
ations. The qualifications for entrance
at the naval academy are as strict as at
West Point, and the course of study is
more difficult. man is required not
simply to study a subject, but to mas
ter it, I don't think there is another
school in the United States where the
students all study. The Annapolis foot
ball team, which ranked sixth in the
country last year, is only given an hour
and a half a day for football practice.
1t is hard study from in the morning
until 10 at night. We are given all the
mathematics there is in the DOCKS, ana
we have to know it absolutely. This
all comes in the first two years. After
that more time is devoted to what we
call steam which includes all forms of
engineering. A graduate OF Annapolis
can operate, take apart, and repair any
kind of steam engine. He is an ex-
pert machinist. Meantime, all during
the course, he is being taught how to
shoot with the great guns.
kansas is not the only state which is
unable to fill up its quota of appoint
ments to Annapolis. There are about
200 vacancies in the school right now.
And at the same time the navy is short
on officers. It is a great opportunity
for young men. A captain of the line
was talking to some of US the other
day, and said: You young men have
the greatest future of any young men
in the country. By the time you are
40 years old, you will all be comman-
deTs of ships The constant enlarge
ment of the navy is what is causing this
shortage of officers, as it is practically
impossible for man to come up from
the ranks to a commission. The only
source of supply is Annapolis.
Just as an example o. the difference
in the standard of the navy and army,
l might say that a naval officer is new
er seen smoking or drinking in public.
He may smoke and drink in private,
but is it contrary to the ethics of the
navy for him to do these things in pub
lic."
Out of each year at Annapolis. the
students are in school eight months,
are on cruise aboard some battleship
three months, and have one month at
home. Speaking of the lessons OF the
recent war, Mr.. Slower said.
"Our navy does not regard the tor
pedo boat with as high favor as do some
naval experts. The experience of tor
pedo boats in the Sea of Japan fight
was not much in their favor. She evil
dence seems to be that the torpedo boats
had a fair chance to sink all those big
battleships, and even against the
wretched craftsmanship of the Rus
slams they failed to accomplish their
task I believe that if a torpedo boat
should try to attack an American bat
tleship, it would be riddled with shells
from the and s Founders within ten
yards after it came within range. 1t
only takes one of those shells in the
right place to sink a torpedo boat.
ut seem to be the general impression
that the crews of the Russian ships
were demoralized and had lost their
morale from the start of the battle. The
Japanese landed a few big shells, and
it took the nerve out of the Russians.
1t was a good deal the same way it is
in street fight; the man who gets in
the first lick has the advantage.
Dozens of ambitious Kansas boys
have solicited and secured congression-
al appointments to Annapolis within the
past few years, only to return home
disappointed after the entrance exami-
pass are in constant danger of being
''bilged;' that is, sent home for failure
to pass the first examination after en-
trance to the school. After that, the
| failure to pass either a mental or physi-
cal examination is likely to land the
unfortunate victim in the outer dark
| ness. Each year the mental examina-
! ton becomes more easy, because the
students know that the only way tc
pass is to master the subject, while the
| physical examinations are made more
strict. Every man is supposed to i'm
prove his physical condition while il
the school. The football players do moi
have to train for condition; they are il
Condition all the time,
| Next year Mr.. Slower will graduate
from Annapolis, and will then be as
signed to active duty on board some
of the big ships.
JERRY CHUBB DID TT.