New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-29

/ Germ that percmrtory justice may ne
looked for from him whenever case OF
running" .s detected. That the effect has
been most ,aWtary is the testimony OF
more than one competent 20 speak.
Another side OF his character and meth
DDS. however Captain Gibbons has care
fully concealed Never has he voluntarily
let II be known that i'm more than one In
stance he has eXcrted his somewhat VIDE
acquaintance In the business world TO Sc
cure opportunities for thc victims OF mill
tarv discipline whom he regarded as
worthy Of assistance. Neither has he con-
sciously revealed, save 20 those who IN
their distress would scarce appreciate 1t
and I'm any event would be little likely to
make il known. the genuine compassion
with which ne has received the parents OF
those he has been compelled to discipline.
and whose appeals for clemency, often as
eloquent as they are pathetic, constitute
one of the trials Of his position.
HIS WAR AGAINST LIQUOR.
or a part with his elimination of hazing
, mas been the relentless warfare which
! the superintendent has wased upon the
! this he has been remarkably successful.
| II must not be a. sumed that this evil
was extensive at tn academy, but that 1t
was grave where IL did exist there can lie
no doubt, and those competent TO speak
declare that Captain Gibbons has stamped
! il out. IL was largely due 10 his efforts
| in this direction that he determined some
what TO curtail the liberty" accorded the
midshipmen To go about Annapolis on
holidays and half-holdays. but as album
dant sources of amusement within the
| grounds are provided for these occasions
| the restrictions impose no actual hard
| ship.
In summarizing the aims OF Captain
| Gibbons, reference was made 10 the dig
niticatlon" Of the first class. that is. the
| graduating class. IL is a part OF the SUI
perntendent's policy 20 enhance the
| standing OF that class in the eyes of their
| fellow midshipmen in all ways possible
| and at the same time to impose on first
| class men additional responsibilities, max
| ing them in large degree accountable Tor
the enforcement of discipline and, precisely
as from among their number are chosen
| to ut them for the duties of command for
which they are being trained, while IN
| cdentally they render valuable assist
! ance by way of example and control in
governing the younger midshipmen.
In dealing with minor infractions OF the
regulations Captain Gibbons is regard
ed as less severe than some of his prede-
cessors. and this may be due 10 the recol-
lection of his own FRANKS as a cadet CT
which, perhaps. the most notable was
that connected with the black flag already
referred to- II is hardly necessary to say
that Captain Gibbons, despite his keen
sense of humor does not tell this story on
himself, but there are many of his class
mates who will vouch for its authenticity.
HUMILIATlNG A CHESTERFIELD.
Back in the EOS, say. about 1878. Ad-
miral c. r. Il. Rogers, one of the Ches-
terfields OF the navy, was superintendent
of the Naval Academy, and on certain
Washingtons Birthday was entertaining
| a delegation OF distinguished men from
| Washington, chief among whom was Gen.
| eral Sherman. Because of some minor
breach OF discipline the admiral had
| thought IL necessary to deprive the entire
brigade of the customary holiday liberty
| to leave the academy grounds. Wholly
| unmndful OF this incident. however. and
justly proud Of the military appearance
Of the cadets, the admiral Invited his
| guests to walk over To the barracks TO
witness the noon formation, at which the
| entire brigade was drawn up In front OF
| tho building while orders were read. etc.
AS other members of the company were