New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-08
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
from The Tribune Bureau

Washington, Jan. Z, 1906.
NAVAL ACADEMY CoNDITIoNs.-The Navy
Department has under consideration the project
of sending 70 sea without further formality de-
lay the first and possibly the second and third
classes at the Naval Academy. This would be
for the young charged with hazing-practi-
cally every member of those classes-a way out
Of their present trouble Hazing has reached such
proportions to amaze the naval authorities, and
they are much troubled with the dimensions Of
the culpability 1t seems be out Of the question
to continue the court martial, especially as the
first class is due to graduate late in February. 1t
is found, too. that the midshipmen reluctantly
titled, and are resorting to ell possible Of
avoiding anything which will get themselves into
trouble. It is this sort Of characterization which
has impressed Secretary Bonaparte more than
the hazing. although that in its vicious. brutal
and humiliattng FORM is bad enough. It has been
decided that something drastic must be done. and
that the time has passed when it is possible to
overlook, without some unusual measure OF Cor
recton, the form of mutiny which has prevailed at
Annapolis. The controversial spirit OF the mid
shipmen is not confined TO the Naval Academy. It
seems Navy Department officials have learned
that board ship some Of them have been ar
guing points with commanding officers and have
questioned whether they could be properly ordered
certain duty, as, for instance. watch and d.
vision officers; claiming also they are not amen
able to the articles of war as they are neither
commissioned officers enlisted men, and so on
OF course, such theory is intolerable, and it is
which the nidshipmen loyal than they
to the academic regulations which are habitu-
ally ignored
Rear Admiral Sands, superintendent Of the
academy. has reported to the Navy Depart
nlent that he has talked with the corps
officers and was surprised to learn from them
that they regard themselves on duty only during
formation and that on other occasions they may
ignore the regulations and conduct themselves as
genious avoidance of giving orders on the part OF
senior claSsmen A system OF signals has oeen
established SO that when a senior holds his thumb
erect plebe knows that he must do stunt No.
to manual signs effects the purpose Of the seniors
to haze and enables them to say they gave no
orders to this that end. Another ingenious way
of indirect hazng disclosed in the investigation is
for senior claRSmen to go to the room Of q plebe
and remark among themselves to the effect that
ent. the latter would be required to stand his
head do OF the other of the tonfooery Of the
hazers This also enables members of a hazing
gang to say they gave no orders, and It also af-
fords the hazed an opportunity TO maintain Sim
liar reticence-
spirit Of INSTRUMENTATION is getting too great a
hold upon the midshipmen, and every effort will
be made to protect the commissioned personnel from
any such menace It is found that nidshtpnen
on shipboard becoming careless in their habits
of dress and this naturally has effect upon the
enlisted men. Arrogance Of manner also is an at
tribute which is becoming disagreeable, and may
be of the numerous causes responsible for
assertions These who have idea of the stu
alton at Annapolis regard it most serious Sec
rotary Bonaparte has refused to listen to the ap-
peals Of Senator'S Congressman and relatives of the