The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-09-04
By CHARLOTTE VI. cONGER.

The navy Is very much to the fore lust
now The summer target practice always
awakens interest; not a newspaper in the
country but gives columns OF space 20
recounting the doings Of the various fleets,
especially to the visit OF the Atlantic
squadron 10 Newport and the gayety e
inspires. Then the termination Of the mid
shipman's summer cruise and their dis
embarkment at Annapolis is a picturesque
episode, so that the navy-God bless it.
Is very much in the public eye. and very
much on the publie tongue at the present
moment
At heated post-prandlal discussion not
long since 1t was claimed by some Of the
hot-headed disputants that the United
States owed its existence and it's present
glory TO the navy and the navy alone
Without making any such claim foF it,
without discrediting any other branch OF
the military service, Il Is indisputable
that the navy from the time Of its birth
has history that every American should
be proud OF. and that considering its re-
sources, has exploits to its credit which
rival those OF any navy OF any period or
country. In the war OF 1872 with a few
ships and a handful Of valiant officers
we successfully fought the greatest navy
in the world. The prestige gained at that
time we have never rellnquished, and
the heroes OF that contest have been an
inspiration to all those who have come
after them.
Officers Are AudacIOus.
Jacob Riis in a recent number OF the
Outlook has a most interesting paper on
Peder Vessel. the naval hero OF Scan
dinavia. whose brilliant and audacious
achievements make the hair OF the small
boy stand on end, but the officers OF the
early American navy were just as auda-
cious. just as brilliant. and some Of Paul
Jones fights and strategies would rival
those OF Peder and make him look 10 his
laurels.
The navies Of to-day. however, bear
little resemblance to those in which the
redoubtable Peder and the gallant Jones
earned fame. and the last hundred years
has seen as great a revolution in battle
ships and sea lighting as in everything
else; which brings 20 mind the remark
made by one Of our erudite Congressman.
who was trying TO have a midshipman
who had been dropped for deficiency in
mathematics reinstated In the Naval
Academy The honorable NJ. c.. in talk
ing TO n naval officer. who endeavored to
explain 10 him that man failing in
mathematics and the subjects related to
II was untitled for naval career in this
scientific age and generation. said: Il
don't care hang for mathematics What
the navy needs is brave officers. who will
jump upon deck and with drawn sword
lead a gallant charge against the enemy
Which sounds too grotesque TO be true.
but it is true. and the only excuse for
the legislator Is that he had been taking
a course in Henty and Capt Mayne Reid
and his ideas regarding tie requirements
Of a naval officer had doubtless been OBJ
tanned from these authors He had never
certainly visited one OF those gigantic
machines Of war. a modern battle ship.
In the former training OF midshipmen
there was more interest. more pictur-
sequences. than is shown in the modern
manufacture OF naval officers. and the
old navy turned out admirable material.
1t turned out Porter. Farragut. Pauld-
ing. and other immortal heroes, and
though the schooling OF these illustrious
men was different Il was In no sense
less difficult or rigorous than that 10
which the midshipmen Of our day are
submitted.
The late Admiral Jouett who was an
admirable raconteur. used 10 dwell az
fectionately upon his initiation into ma
val life, and a discussion of the system
now in vogue always invoked the story
OF his first appearance on the old indie
pendenoe, to which he was assigned when
appointed midshipman mite. and until
he walked aboard her TO report he had
never crossed the gangplank Of a man-of-
war
His First Lesson.
i was a sociable yonngster." said Ad-
miral Jouett. and when I saw the Stars
and Stripes floating over the old Inde-
pendencc. remembered that my mother
had taught me that my first duty was
TO my flag. on this line I attempted
some conversation with the executive Of
fcer, who had received me when I came
on board. and who was a strict disclp-
hnarian. Silence. sir he roared. his face
red with anger. Silence, sir. Who gave
you permission to speak? Let me hear
only six words from you while YOU are
on this ship-port, starboard. yes, sir. and
no, sir He left me feeling as big as a
little cock sparrow. and that was my in
PRODUCTION to the navy"
Fifty years or so earlier Commodore
Porter, the famous commander Of the
Essex. when ne was a midshipman on
board the Constellation. Capt. Truxtun re-
ceived even worse treatment Sent be-
low by the executive officer with some
order, he was hailed with abuses upon
his return 10 the deck for his delay in
carrying out the instructions. and the
most abusive and profane epithets were
hurled at him by the Infatuated officer.
But II he was a young midshlpman
Porter was an old seaman and had been
twice impressed by the British so be
sassed back when the abuse became
moro violent than he could stand, where
upon the euraged lieutenant struck Mid
shipmnn Porter across the face. This
blow was promptly returned by the
plucky youngster, who laid his superior
full length on the deck. In the
melee that followed this mutinous act
W E'"HfNN SNe'e'HS anu NVuio nave
doubtless killed his tormentor had the
captain not appeared and put a timely
end 10 the fracas.
No Punishment Inflicted.
Porter received no punishment. but. on
TIC contrary stood IN high favor ever
attcrward with Truxtun. who thought he
was perfectly warranted in resenting
tne insult offered him. The end OF the
story Is that the offending officer was
subsequently, degraded from his rank for
~onducI unbecominE an officer. and served