Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-25
OUR M|DDES CAPTURE
THE CITY OF LONDON
Annapolis Cadets on Practice
Cruise Meet With Up
r0ari0uS Welcome.

LONDON, June 25.--The British
metropolis surrendered itself utterly to
the 625 midshipmen from the. United
States Naval Academy who invaded the
city yesterday afternoon by two special
trains from Plymouth, where the three
American battleships, the Iowa, the In
diana and the Massachusetts,, carrying
them on a summer practice cruise. will
lie at anchor until next Thurbday.
Looking trim in their blue uniforms
they received a noisy welcome as they
tumbled out Of the trains at Padding
ton station, and during the evening
they were cheered in the streets by
Americans and Englishmen alike.
SQUADS who visited the theaters and
music halls were constantly hailed with
an uproarious welcome.
Each naval cadet has been constituted
an officer commanding himself. He is
at liberty to see the sights OF the big
city as he chooses. The only injunction
which has been laid upon the youngsters
who will become some day officers In the
United States fleet is that they report
promptly at noon Sunday at the railway
station. Special trains will carry them
back to the warships.
smartness Attracts Londoners.
Their smart appearance has attracted
considerable attention. Londoners ex-
pected to find them clad in the regular
garb OF enlisted men. Consequently they
rubbed their eyes when they saw them in
uniforms not unlike those worn by retired
British soldiers and sailors who serve as
commissiOnaires in the city, excepting the
crows of medals usually decorating the
latter.
The hotels are jammed with the mid
dies who will tour the city as they see
fit. No formal program has been ar
ranged for them. The American Society
in London and other organizations sought
permission to entertain them. but Capt.
Clark. in command Of the cruising squad
ron. felt 1t necessary to decline all such
invitations and to allow the boys to
spend their time in their own way.
While the midshipmen are enjoying
shore leave approximately one hundred
bluejackets from various ships also are
having a good time here. They have been
taken in tow by British sailors. Practi-
cally all are quartered at the Union Jack
Club and the Shore Club. The ''hands
across the sea- sentiment has been
clinched more firmly than ever by mutual
good fellowship.
Visits Mayor Of Plymouth.
DOWN at Piymoutn yesterday, "hHe the
battleships were coaling in the inner
harbor. Capt. Clark. attended by his
aids. made formal call on the mayor
Of that city. The latter pointed out to
his visitors the original paintings Of
Drake and Hawkins. The mayor will re-
turn the visit Monday.
Paymaster Spear is busy. He drew
5000 from a local bank for the expenses
Of the midshipmen and bluejackets. They
have made themselves popular there by
free expenditures of money prior to their
London invasion. Practically every man
ordered new civilian clothes, the battle
ships having been visited by a host of
tatlors with their samples.
Midshipman @. A. Smith of Chicago,
who was removed to Plymouth Naval
Hospital. suffering from typhoid fever.
IL making good progress though he may
not be able to leave with his ship.