Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-13
Midshipmen and Marriage.

Three applications in one day from mid
shipmen to the Secretary of the Navy for
permission to marry has served to direct
the attention of the department to that
subject and to cause the officials to con-
slider the question of announcing a new
policy prohibiting such marriages except
under very special conditions 1t so hap
pens In the three cases referred to that
either the young midshipman or his
f1ancee. in their own right or through
their family connections, were possessed
of sufficient means to insure their worldly
comfort and to enable them to dismiss
the problem Of a married couple trying
to live on a midshipman's small wage.
But the officials who have to deal with
this subject believe that there Is some
thing more than the mere monetary con-
sideration involved. 1T Is better for
ing babies" grimly remarked one old
salt, and, indeed. the general opinion Of
the older officers was to the effect that a
youngsters usefulness was likely to be
considerably reduced by very early mar
rage, before he had seen much OF the
world and come to realize by practical
experience the peculiar conditions that
surround a sailors marital relations. 1t
is expecting too much Of human nature
to suppose that a midshipman can receive
cheerfully and in the proper spirit orders
that will tear him away from his bride
and keep them apart for three-year tour
of service, hence he is not likely to be
the better officer or to advance more rap
idly in his profession by reason of his
marriage.
NowS the responsible officers Of the de-
partment fully realize that there will be
an awful row among eligible young ladies
when the order goes forth prohibiting the
very distinctly the hot reception Gen.
Corbin received for his well-meant sug-
gestion that subalterns in the army be re-
quired to abstain from matrimony unless
they were in the possession OF private
fortunes. Nevertheless, being satisfied as
to the soundness of the policy. it is I'M
derstood that, even II formal order Is
not issued. the Navy Department will feel
| to most Of the applications from midship-
men for permission to marry.
Commended for Heroism.
Secretary Metcalf has written a letter
| of commentator to James v. Madison,
boatswains mate on the United States
| steamship Tennessee in which he says:
1.-The department is in receipt Of q re-
port from the commanding officer Of the
United States steamship Tennessee recit-
1 ing your heroic action on October 3,
| 1907, when you jumped overheard from
| the United States steamship Tennessee at
| Bradford, r. l., and rescued from drown
ing one George W. DOLL ordinary seaman.
| who lost his balance while coaling ship
and fell into the water. striking the
| lighter lying alongside and thereby being
| rendered unconscious. The fact that
| there was very little space between the
ship and lighter added to the danger to
yourself. Your gallant act is heartily
| commended by the department.
School for Hospital Stewards.
| The school of navy hospital stewards
| opened the past week at the Washington
| navy yard in charge of Surgeon Sheldon
| G. Evans. The old hospital quarters
| have been rearranged and newly fitted up
| for the purposes of the school. which will
continue for a period Of five weeks for
| each class. There were fifty-one appIi-
cants for admission to the present class,
| forty-nine Of whom qualified.
Another Rattleship.
A preliminary trial Of the United States
steamship Mississippi by her builders will
be made next Tuesday at the Delaware
| breakwater, Del, instead Of on the Rock
land (Me) course. The builders Of the
vessel desired to save the expense of TAX
ing her up north. and the Navy Depart
ment granted permission for the trial off
the Delaware breakwater.
Naval Recruits Wanted.
three recruiting parties in the field this
winter. or at least part Of the season
Two of these will operate on the Pacific
coast-one from the United States cruise,
California, at Mare Island, working
through California. and the other from
The United States battleship Nebrask
at Puget sound, working in Washington
and Oregon The third party will operate
in northwestern Pennsylvania being SEM
out from the United States ship Wolver
inc. which does the recruiting on the
great lakes during the summer. This
: Wolverine is now laid up for the season
at Erie. There is such demand fol
labor at higher wages than tie govern
ment pays enlisted men In either the
army navy that those engaged in OBJ
tanning recruits are not meeting will
much success.
Proposed Transfer Of Coast Artillery
Gen. Murray, chief of artillery, con
firms the report that Secretary Taft. be
fore leaving for Japan directed him tc
draft bill transferring the coast artil
lery to the navy. The proposed legisla,
ton provides for the transfer of the en-
tire coast artillery from the War to the
| Navy Department, and it's organiZat ior
there as a separate and self-sustainins
corps, directly under the control Of the
Secretary of the Navy. The dill will bt
submitted to Mr.. Taft on his return anf
: If approved by him will go to Congress
accompanied by special message from
the President urging its enactment into
law
Gen- Murray is quoted as saying: This
have commanded the coast bordering ter
| ritorial departments have been appointed
with very rare e3oan1io1