The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-06-05
ACADEMY DAYS OYER
Many Middies Will Be Grad
uated at Annapolis.
CLASS NUMBERS TWO HUNDRED
Secretary of the Navy MetcaIf VIII
Not Make Principal Address, ns Had
sents to Present the Diplomas.
Board of Visitors Inspect shops.
specIal % rhe washinrton Hold.

Special TO The Washington Herald
Annapolis. Nd. June All Of the
drills and practical exercises incident TO
the entertainment OF the members OF the
board of visitors 10 the Naval Academy
We're completed to-day. and everything is
in readiness for the commencement exer-
cises tomorrow morning. when the 200
midshipmen OF the first class will receive
their coveted sheepshns. earned after a
course OF four years hard study.
Although the ceremony of graduation
will be noteworthy, because the class Is
the largest that ever went out from the
institution az any ore time before. yet
some of the official color will be missing.
as Secretary Of the Navy Victor II. Met
calf. who, IL was expected, would deliver
the principal address TO the graduates,
and present 10 them their diplomas. ad-
vised Supt. Badger this morning that he
Will be unable TO come to Annapolis. be-
cause of other pressing business engage
ments. AS soon as this notification was
received, arrangements were at once
made 20 ask Gen. Horace Porter, or New
York City. president Of the board of Wis
itors. TO deliver the address and hand out
the diplomas. Cen Porter gladly con-
sented to act in this capacity.
Begin at 10 O'Clock.
The graduation ceremonies will be Of
simple nature. and will take place in the
armory. beginning at 10 o'clock IN the
morning
The board to-day Witnessed another in
teresting mimic war game. when the
brigade of midshipmen participated in a
sham battle. being paraded as a brigade
of infantry
Although the drill was MARRIED to
great extent by light rain. which fell
throughout the entire time it was in
progress, II was decidedly the most In
teresting OF the practical exercises held
before the official visitors during the
week. The scheme Of the battle had been
arranged. and the plans were carried
out as II in real warfare. The first bat
TALON, under charge Of Lieut.. Ernest J.
King and the midshipmen company COM
manders comprised the defending forces,
while the attacking party was the see
ond battalion. under command OF Lieut.
Walter n. Vernon. The hostile forces
were equally divided each battalion COM
prising twelve companies.
Marches to Scene of Battle.
Forming at tho armory as a brigade.
the second battalion was first to march
to the scene Of the battle" Entering
upon the athletic field. the battalion i'm
medlately decided to take up position
of intrenchment behind the Jleachers OF
the athletic field. The pleu of battle was
10 attack the row Of officers houses IN
| Upshur Row. After the second battalion
had successfully taken up It's position in
/ hiding, the first battalion Immediately
sent out scouting parties Of midshipmen.
| to locate the enemy, and this done, re-
endorsements soon followed until the full
battalion was on the Battlefield" When
the attacking party opened fire, detail
Of the defending forces Immediately en-
gagged them. The firing was thick and
fast for a time. but the first battalion
finally forced the enemy 70 retreat be-
hind the stands again and the battle had
been won.
The Visitors followed this up with an
inspection Of the ships Of the midship-
mems training feet. and were conveyed
{
sells lying In the stream aboard steam
launches. They also visited the battle
ship North Carolina, which arrived to-day
and is anchored in Annapolis Roads. five
miles out from the city.
The exercise Of the afternoon before the
Board Of Visitors consisted OF a drill IN
steam engineering. This took place In the
finely equipped building Of the depart
ment Of marine engineering and naval
construction. The Visitors took IN the
several departments Of the building, and
in each saw squads of midshipmen per-
| forming practical work.
Inspect Pattern shop.
In the pattern shop the middies were
engaged In the selection ard treatment of
different woods for different purposes
Passing into the foundry room the Visit
ors saw the middies casting iron and
brass, and the making OF bronzes and al
! Toys. In the blacksmith shop the middies
were engaged in real manual work, con-
sisting Of forging, welding. tempering
bending and testing metals. Others
were busily engaged in the boiler room.
riveting patching. and testing. and in the
machine shop there was an exhibition Of
wise benchwork, machine tOolwork. and
pipeftting.
One of the most interesting phases Of
/ this drill was the actual management Of
the midshipmen OF main and auxiliary
engines. and squads Of the embryo admi-
rails were seen IN the engine room and
fire room. performing all the work neces-
sary in connection with the management
| g glI rrs1,f IL, Of