The Washington herald., 1909-06-04
ipecial to The Washington Herald.


monies before the board Of visitors 10
the Naval Academy.
The battle was between the two bat
talions OF the brigade, which were pa
raded under infantry arms. although each
carried two field pieces of artillery, as
additional supports. The fighting was
terrific for twenty minutes, and although
there were a number OF casualties on
both sides, the second battalion. COM
manded by Lieut.. Walter \. Vernon, the
six companies being under the command
Of their respective captains. according 70
the prearranged plan OF battle, won the
day, having forced the first battalion TO
retreat across the bridge leading 70 the
Naval Cemetery.
Engagement Well Worked Out.
The plan Of the engagement was well
worked out and offered a most interest
ing spectacle TO the visitors. Clad in
their white canvas uniforms. with white
leggins. and headed by the Naval Acad-
emy Band. under Prof. Charles A. Zim-
norman. the middies marched onto the
field
/ Lieut. Commander d. L. Dlsmukes. who
commands the brigade. had full direction
Of the drill. The first battalion. under
the command Of Lieut.. Ernest J. King.
was the first 20 enter the scene Of action.
and while the infantry forces hanked
/ themselves along the quarters Of the
officers families on Rodgers row. the
artillery supports went across the bridge
and established positions on the sea wall
] I,7s- and
below Cemetery Hll. In the meantime.
the companies Of the second battalion
! retrenched themselves behind the grand
stands about the athletic field AS soon
/ as this was done. the first battalion,
which was az the Ear end OF the field.
I opened preliminary hOstiiiues by sending
out scouting parties TO locate the enemy.
/ When this was accomplished. the scouts
] Immediately opened FIRE, and re-enforce-
ments came 10 the front. Simultaneous
/ ly, the second battalion opened fire from
/ behind the stands. and quickly advanced
Firing at Close Quarters.
The firing FOR a time was az close
/ quarters. and the first battalion was
! soon compelled 10 make a retreat They
were forced back still further when the
| second battalion's artillery forces came
on the field and Immediately opened fire.
! Gradually the second battalion beat back
the infantry supports Of the attacking
/ force. and shortly afterward the artillery
! forces Of the second FASTENED 10 a post
| ton along the driveway. near the Aca-
deny bosthouses. and opened an engage
ment with the artillery Of the first bat
/ talon across the creek.
The firing continued thick and fast FOR
| several minutes, and as the first hat
| talon was driven 20 retreat a number of
| middies OF both the attacking and de-
Tending forces dropped from the ranks. as
| II dead. There they lay on the field until
finally the first battalion, although max
ing a determined stand was beaten 70
utter retreat across the bridge. The VIC
. tors and vanquished then reaSsemhled.
passed In review before the board Of
visitors. and marched back 20 the armory.
Explode Mines
This afternoon the official board had
the opportunity Of Witnessing a varied
programme Of the practical exercises IN
vogue at the Academy during the year
The first exercises was a torpedo. mine
and gun drill. A squad OF midshipmen
on the torpedo boat BagIey showed the
{ board what they have learned Of handling
| and discharging torpedoes, the Bagley
having steamed out into the river, and
the projecties were discharged while IN
der full steam.
Other squads rof the middles formed
the crew Of the small steam launches
and engaged in the planting or mines. de-
/ signed 10 blow Up the ships Of a hostile
I troy rrn GuF i
still others gave drill in the handling
OF the larger guns aboard ship.
In the shops.
Immediately following these drills. al
4:30 o'clock. the board repaired to the
marine engineering building. where they
witnessed practical exercises in engineer
ing under the department Of marine en-
cheering and naval construction. OF
which Commander Frank W Bartlett is
the presiding officer. This was partici-
pated in by the midshipmen Of the second
battalion Squads Of the middies were
seen at work in the different departments
Some Of them were doing regular shor
work. comprising the selection and treat.
ment Of different woods for different Dur.
poses. elementary work in the carpenter
shop. through mortising, joining. &c. Il
finish pattern work. Others were seen IL
the foundry room. casting brass anC
iron and the making Of bronzes and al
lOys. Passing into the blacksmith shop
the members of the board saw the mid
dies at work forging and welding, TEN
pering, casehardening, and bending anC
/ shop-Quenching tests Of metals In IN,
boiler shop there was an exhibition O,
riveting. soft and hard patching. calking
expanding. testing, &C. Quite the mos
interesting part of this drill vas the worl
in the machine shop. where the middle,
were seen at wise bench work. pipe NJ
ting. &c.
Get Close TO AIiddies.
The board Of visitors appointed by the
President and Congress 20 Inspect tht
United States Naval Academy and report
upon It's needs, has found new way OF
getting close to the heart Of things. lis
members paying an unexpected visit tC
the midshipmen during their meals. and
each member sitting at different table
and having a confidential talk with some
student.
The midshipmen were urged 10 tan
freely and let the members know Of any
thing they wished along the line Of eithe,
criticism or suggestion. They were par.
ticularly urged 20 tell frankly IL any.
thing in the line Of 'hazing' existed. and
they all affirmed that the practice wa:
dead al Annapolis. The regulation agalns-
"hazing' is being Tigidly enforced by
the members Of the first class. accordine
70 the universal statement OF the mid.
|. shipmen-
The midshipmen were also asked II
they considered the hours Of study too
long and Of recreation too short They
said, as a rule. that they did not, ans
understood when they entered that thers