The Washington herald., 1908-07-30
CHANGBSATACADEMY
Two Chief Instructors at the
Navy School to Leave.
NEW FOURTH CLASS FORMING
Now Numbers One Hundred and
ninety-nine Members, but Expect
ed Accession win Bring II TO Two
Hundred and Fifteen-NidshiP-
mems Summer Cruise Near End

Annapolis. Ma. July 2.-When the
Naval Academy reopeHs for the next
academic term. on October ]. II Is prob
able that there Will be changes in Two
OF the most important departments
Commander William :. Benson. com
mandant Of mtdshipTnen. now IL com
mand OF the nidshipnen's summer Cruis-
ing squadron. has finished out HIS as
signment 10 shore duty. and il is expected
he viii be sent TO sea after the ships re-
turn TO Annapolis next month. just who
viii succeed him as commandant Is not
known here. but 1t IS understood that the
Navy Department already has several
officers under consideration. Commander
Benson's shore ass gumenI expired be-
fore the cruising squadron sailed from
Annapolis. in June but since Il is Gus
t0mary for the commandaut OF midship-
men 10 command that squadron, he was
sent on that duty
The other department in which there
will be a vacancy as chief IS that of
Z ordnance and gunnery. over which Com
nander John A Hoosewe-n presiGes.
| Commander H0ogewerm has also finished
a three years ssignment 20 the Naval
Z Academy He became head OF the de-
partmeut about a year ago when Capt
} Thomas p. Howard was ordered 10 duty
{ with the Pacific feet. and for TWO years
prior 70 that he was chief assistant un-
der Capt Howard Commander Hocge-
wern now commands the cruiser Chicago,
( OF the summer cruise fleet
Junior Vacancies Probable.
In addition 10 these. there viii be
number Of changes IN the roster Of
younger officers on duty al the Academy
as assistants IN the several departments
Of instruction.
The new fourth class Of midshlpmen.
row being formed. viii number about 215
members. That is the definite estimate
that has been made by Naval Academy
authorities The class has for several
weeks been practically formed. II now
has a membership Of lss. and there are
about twenty candidates who were re-
/ jected on their first physical examina-
tion, but who with permission. submit
I ted 10 surgical operations. with view 10
remedying the defects. and viii come Up
for a final examination aoxt month.
About four or five Of these. il Is thought.
viii fail to measure Up to the require
meuts.
Contrary 10 the custom q the last few
years. the new class IS not being sent on
weekly cruises in Chesapeake Bay aboard
i the training ship Severn Instead. the
Severn is mOored 10 the Santee dock, and
[ the new recruits are being put through a
series Of seamanship drills aboard her
Cruise l. Nearly Ended
/ The return OF the regular practice
cruise feet. with the upper class midship-
men aboard. is expected about August 2S
/ The fleet now has its headquarters al
New London. Conn. but sailed yesterday
1 for g stay Of several days at Newport.
I r I. where the niddies VIII be given The
! opportunity Of visiting the Naval War
College AID inspecting the naval torpedo
station there. Capt Charles J. Badger.
I superintendent or the Academy, is now
al the Naval War College attending the
/ sessions Of the special board detailed by
I the Navy Department 70 discuss battle
I ships with the view 10 recommending
changes as 70 construction.
TWO more candidates were admitted
! into the new fourth class yesterday
Louis P WenzeIl. Of Pittsburg. and Ar
thur s. Walton. Of Berkeley. Cal