The Washington times., 1907-06-23
ANNAPO Oils HAZING
AGAIN CHARGED
Admiral Sands Reports Nc
Known Breaches of
Discipline.
Few "GreenieS" May Have
Been Put Through
Tests.

Reports from Annapolis that hazing
has again broken out at the Naval
Academy are frowned upon by officials
or the Navy Department, who stamp
such reports as entirely groundless
Rrmors began to reach the ears of the
officials some two weeks ago that some
of the new midshipmen. just admitted
were being given a rough reception, and
this was brought 10 the attention OF
Rear Admiral Sands. superintendent of
The academy. Admiral Sands, IL lie
velops, had the board of investigation
look into the matter. with the result
that they reported no known breaches
of discipline of the nature of hazing.
II appears that the first reports Of
the hazing came to the department from
the parents and friends OF some of the
freshmen" who had just gone to the
academy for their first time. Whether
the boys had written home that they
had been hazed. or whether the parents
having IN mind the fate of certain for
mer midshipmen, took the -precaution 70
put the department on its guard. is not
known. The officials here say that
while they have been unable 10 find
that the former practice of hazing has
bobbed up again, il would not be sur
prising If the ."greenies" were out
through a few tests, as they are at al
most every school, college, and uni
versity in the land.
Board of Visitors Investigated.
The board IF visitors. during its re-
Gent Investigations Of conditions at the
academy. looked carefully into the mat
ter of discipline and its report highly
praises the good order that prevails.
They found no evidence Of hazing dur
ing the past year. Questions OF this
subject were asked Of a number OF the
new fourth class boys. as well as OF
members Of the other classes
Anyway. the hazing season is not vet
on. Business in the hazing line is near
ly always dull in the summer time 1t
is in the fall and early winter. when
the boys are renewing their acquainr-
ances. that the hazing fever seems to
be highest.
IL would not be surprising to officials
OF the Navy Department. if IL should
bob up again In an annoying manner
next fall, because Of the new admins
traton. Rear Admiral Brownson, now
chief of the Bureau of Navigation, who
was succeeded four years ago by Al
miral Sands, as superintendent of the
Naval Academy, found a great deal
OF hazing when he first took I'D mis-
duties, although his predecessor. had
practically stamped IL out Admiral
BroWnson stamped il out. but II re-
quired time and hard work. in the face
Of obstacles presented by Congress.
Committee of Midshipmen.
Finally the midshipmen appointed
s-slv-
TO bind them all over to the peace. -
SO far as hazing was concerned. When
Admiral Sands came in, he thought the
agreement held good. but the midsnip-
men didn't So hazing had been carried
on secretly to a considerable extent be-
fore the officials discovered it. The
Navy Department and Admiral Sands
again without the aid OF Congress.
fought II out, but not until two deaLhs
had resulted from Jhe brutal methods
adopted. and till several midshipmen
had been dismissed from the academy.
The wind-up was more than A wear ago
and, so far as the officials here know.
there has been no hazing since
Commander Badger. assistant to the
chief Of the Bureau OF Navigation who
Will succeed Admiral Sands as superin-
tendent of the academy June u. was
conmandant of cadets under Admiral
Brownson's administration. Commander
Badger had considerable experience IN
the night 10 stamp out hazing. and il
was partly through the methods sug-
gested by him that the results were OBJ
tained- Although, as at the beginning
OF previous administration. the future
naval officers may try OUT the neU
superintendent with hazine oA7cIo,s
here nave confidence that the new su-
per1ntendent will promptly make him
self master Of the situation. and the
present good order and discipline aIn
prevail.