The Washington times., 1909-06-03
BOARD MAKES VISIT
TO ACADEMY MEN
Visitors Casually Drop in
for FirSt-Hand Informa-
ton From Cadets.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

board of visitors this morning after
seeing the battle drill OF the midship-
men, accompanied by terrific artillery
and infantry fire. The drill was the
opening event Of the third and last day
Of the practical exercises Of June week.
This afternoon there viii be a gun,
mine, and torpedo drin. and practical
work in mechanical engineering and
marine construction. Tomorrow the
week will come to an end in flare of
brilliance The graduates will receive
their diplomas in the morning; the fare
well ball will be given in the evening.
The latter is, of course, the big social
event OF the week. and one of the not
able AFFAIRS of the kind in the social
world. Tremendous crowds always at
tend, and each succeeding class vies
with the others IN the effort to make
the biggest and best ball that has ever
been given.
The exercise this morning was a bat
tie scene pure and simple. no time being
/ lost in the usual preliminaries of using
advance guards and fankers. This was
/ done to prevent the drill from being
( unduiy prolonged The second battalion,
under Lieutenant Vernon, had taken a
strong position across College Creek
/ from the parade grounds and two how
/ tiers, forming part of the command,
! occupied positions on the sea wall, the
parade ground coming within the sweep
Of their fire.
Infantry Intrerched.
The infantrymen of the first battalion
under Lieut.. E. J. King, were strongly
! intrenched in the sunken road and be-
hind the stands which line the south
side of the grounds. The engagement
began when the guns of the second bat
talion opened a heavy fire from across
the creek Almost simultaneously the
first battalion threw out an advance fire
line. while the attachments of the sec
ond crossed the bridge and advanced
from the other side Of the buildings
On the north side of the grounds. de
l5loying at double time into line OF
squads and Their into line Of skirmish-
ers-
The skirmishers OF the second bat
TALON advanced upon the position held
by the first, in the meantime being
heavinly REINFORCED by column after
! across the creek supported the advance
BIZ repeated volleys. The firing line OF
the first battalion gradually fell back Ia
good order and formed with the main
body IN the road and behind the stands
from which point the advancing force OF
the second battalion was held in check
lby a heavy volley and individual ire
Just here the crucial movement or the
engagement occurred. when the mrs.
battalion brought into action two guns
which had been kept hidden behind th'
residence Of the superintendent TO th'
rear and side of the grounds. Thest
| swung into action. and at very clos.
range poured volley after vo.ley, pre-
4 sumably of canister. into the lines o
the rihemen OF the second battalion.
Great Mortality"
The s'mortaIitv'' was tremendous from
both the infantry ard artillery fire, an
here occurred the incidents which ac
r counted to the member of the board o
visitors for the shortage Of officers, a.
! the ground was strewu with the canvas
clad midshipnlen, who, however wer'
not half enough to represent the casual
ties which would have occurred hae
the men been exposed to real rifle an
artillery fire.
: talon could not hold its ground ans
slowly and in good order retired acros
= the road the skirmish lines of the frs
. battalion pressing closely. The ina
| charge Of the first battalion hemme'
many Of the second IN the narrow ros'
to the bridge. and effected their cap
ture, leaving the honors Of the engage
7 meut with the first battalion. whtcs' M
: foriginaIly held the ground