The Washington times., 1910-06-03
More Than 100 Midshipmen
Given Diplomas By Sec
rotary Meyer.
ADDRESS TO CLASS
BY CABINET OFFICER
Secretary of the Navy Discusses
Changed Conditions and Eff
forts to Meet Them.

ANNAPOLIS. Nd, June 3.-One hun
dred and twenty-five graduates CT the
Naval Academy, who received diplomas
from the hands of Secretary of the
Navy George Won L. Meyer, did not
seem TO have their joy diminished in
the slightest degree by the fact that
IT was diplomas they received and not
commissions as officers il the navy,
which is generally felt to be their due
at the end of their course at the Acad-
envy.
II was felt that as one branch of
Congress has already passed the bill to
correct this injustice, il is not all i'm
probable that the ensigns commissions
will be along before the end of two
years time.
Dignifed and appropriate ceremonies
marked the presentation of the rolls
as an aftermath, the midshipmens
sentiments were strongly expressed
when the graduates sang with deep
feeling Their class song. ending Here's
TO the good old Navy, and the class OF
ninteen ten
Secretary Meyer. the members Of the
board Of visitors, the academic board
and the others who composed the official
party marched through the lines formed
by the two battaliOns of the midship-
men brigade down the entire length OF
the armOry and took seats at the other
end.
The ceremonies were opened by an in
vocation by Chaplain II. H. Clark, and
an address by Hon. l.. Z. Padgett, OF
Tennessee. followed. Mr.. Padgett en-
phasized the point that the courses of
instruction at the academy, useful as
they are, were secondary to the qualities
OF manlineSS, that should be inCulCated
there.
Secretary Meyer then addressed the
graduates and handed his diploma u
each as the name was called.
Addressed to All Midshipmen.
While it is to the graduating class
that I shall chiefly address my remarks
today. l desire TO include also the grad
yates OF other classes who will. when
they shall have completed their course
here. be facing the same responsible
tiles as those graduating today.
All Of the men entering Annapolis
sign a contract agreeing to serve the
Government eight years. The Govern
ment on its part assumes all expense
In connection with the education and
maintenance Of the students, and also
allOts salary of $500 per annum. There
fore, the relation and obligations of the
student at the Academy are quite diff
1erent from those Of the collegian TO
his alma ma ter. At the university he
remains as long as he pays his tuition
and attainS a certain average in his
studies. with good behavior
The requirements here, both physical
and mental, are, l observe, ccnsiC cred
by some critics unusually strict and ex-
acting: but this is necessary on =~cUunt
OF the varied duties required of the ma
val officer throughout his career, and
also on account Of the high standing
which naval officers in this country
have established and maintained
Officers Duties Changed.
I have in my office at Washington
model Of the original KearsaTge and
one OF the battleship Michigan
know of no comparison that viii dem
onStTata so well At a glance how
the duties of the naval officer have
changed, and with il the Characters
ties OF the officer and bluejackst.
In former years it was often diff
cult 60 man the ships with American
sailors. and we were obliged to enlist
men OF other natiOnalitieS Today 96
per cent OF our crews are Americans
The battleship of today is a vast
complicated administrations in
each unit part, yet delicate as a whole
in that 1t requires a skilled per-
sonnet to make all parts work in uni
con to a common end. This requires
on the part of officers and men of
the navy exacting drill. and training
The snip and machinery must be
Kept In repair for efficient working
and this work is accomplished by him
through the various departments in a
manner similar to that at a navy
yard, except that the repairs are not
always so extensive.
On a BattIeship.
There is no more complicated or
ganization in the world than that of
a modern battleship, and there is no
place in the world where you will find
more order. method, and system-au
working TO a common end-than in
one of these vessels, under the di-
rection of the executive officer
In order that officers may reach flag
rank at the time of life when they are
IN their prime. a personnel bill has
been introduced in Congress by which
captains will be created from forty
three to torty-eight years. and rear
admirals al flfty-five The responsi-
oility OF commanding a battleship in
wolves not only a thousand lives, but
a vast expenditure Of money and the
possible loss Of unit in the feet OF !
strategic Importance Therefore a
commanding officer should be AZ an
age TO stand the nervous as well as
the mental and physical strain. Our
SulnlIaiS should nave more time in
that rank to get practice as squadron
and division commanders before
reaching the supreme command OF
the feet.
Trip of Oregon.
Such exhibitions as the voyage Of the
Oregon from San Francisco to Cuba,
getting at once into battle, withou.. any
breakdown in its machinery, and like
wise the late trip Of the fleet around
the world without an accident, and on
schedule time. speak volumes for our
naval officers. both as to the stanchness
of ship construction and the ability OF
the engineer to maintain the machinery
in such a state of perfection and ef-
ficiency that the ships could have
started OF on a second trip around the
world without being locked or repaired
The aims and purposes of the Naval
Academy are TO educate discipline, and
instruct the young men who have had
the honor and the good fortune to be
selected so that they may best serve
their country by displaying fortitude
and hardness OF fiber, and later distin-
cuish themselves as efficient and pa
triotic officers in the navy Of which our
country has always been justly proud
Wherever your talents lead you, your
aim should be at all times an earnest
endeavor TO attain the highest ef-
So to Lursy, Va, and Return June s
Baltimore & Ohio. from Union Station.
Washington Sis a m. returning leave