The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-03-16
THE NAVAL
Its Origin and Growth-Its Object.
The Cadets and Their Training.

The Hon. George Bancroft, who was
a secretary Of the navy for the Unit
ed States of America, builded better
than he knew, or was gifted with nm
usual foresight when, in 1916, he OBJ
tanned for a naval academy the trans
fer of Fort Severn and land adjacen',
which was under the jurisdiction OF
the war department., TO the navy de-
partment. From a little more than
nine acres, at the point where the beau
tiful river Severn opens into Chesa-
peake Bay, the academy has acquired
by purchase and by filling in marshes
a property of one hundred acres: and
the modest school which was begun
then with a few pupils in such struc-
lures as could be utilized or provid-
ed at moderate cost, now has between
eight hundred and nine hundred mud
shipmen, and groups Of buildings, COM
pleted or in course of construction. fo-
which congress has appropriated the
sum Of ten million dollars. Thus far
theer have been graduated at the acac-
envy more than three thousand young
men, and the annual cost of mainte-
nance of the institution has been about
$500, 900. The rapid development Of
III buIltIA- VI ACV S1AiPo,
and the consequent demand for officers
has led to the large recent growth of
the naval academy.
One naval cadet is allowed by law
for every member or delegate OF the
house of representatives, one from the
District of Columbia, and ten at large
In addition to the midshipmen rJw
authorized by law, the president can
appoint five, and each senator two for
each state, in addition up to the year
1916. The course is six years, TIC last
two of which are spent in practical
service at sea, and each summer there
are cruises of three months. Candi-
dates for admission to the academy
are examined mentally al certain
places in the United States, and phys
ically at the academy by a board of
three medical officers of the navy. No
imperfect, defOrmed or understood per
son a be received. At the age of
sixteen the candidate must be five feet
2 inches in height; at eighteen two
inches more. The minimum weight
must be one hundred pounds, with an
increase Of five pounds for each add
tional year. Each midshipman binds
himself to serve in the navy eight
years, unless o discharged, ant ne
receives $500 a year pay. His instruc-
ton is largely technical, designed to
qualify himtfor his profession; and in
cludes all sorts of mathematics, sengi-
ueering, physics and chemistry, Eng
lish and law, modern languages, ca
manship, navigation, ordinance and
gunnery. Physical training tx drills
exercises is constant.
The physical training at the naval
academy is not designed to make ath-
letes, but to give the young men
strong bodies in order that they may
be strong, graceful, agile, quick and
sure, self-reliant, brave and enduring.
They are not trained for a race, Or a
record. or a game, but for a life-ser-
vice in which manhood is a prime
requisite. Athletic contests are allow
ed, but rigidly limited and entirely vol
untary. The results Of sucn bodily
culture are seen in the erect carriage,
clear eye, firm step and well formed
frams of the young men.-New York
observer.