New-York tribune., 1912-03-03

Naval Academy, SdIu a i4Auo''if
n man in discussing the act TO make
midshipmen ensigns at graduation II tEat
bill passes. 1t interests every mdsmpmah
from the highest TO the humbest 'plebe'
1t will add to the spirit of the corps
There is great interest manifested In
this bill" declared another THE whole
brigade of midshipmen are moved by it,
The corps is filled with repeated rumors
Of it's fate-sometimes good reports ana
sometimes bad-that 1t has passed and that
It has been defeated. The midshipmen are
constantly at the phone calling on their
respective Congressman TO tell them the
situation"
If that bill goes through exclaimed
another enthusiastic midshipman, Il must
90 through the Naval Academy, too"
This bill will advance the midshipmen
two years since under the present law
they are not made ensigns until they have
been out Of the Naval Academy for two
years An ensign in the navy is equivalent
In rank and pay TO a second lieutenant in
the army. The West Point graduates are
made second licutcnants in the regular
army as soon as they are graduated, and
the navy is asking the same identical rank
for their graduates The pay Of second
lieutenant in the army is S,7O0 a year.
with quarters.
The passage of the act is expected TO
promote the cause Of matrimoay as q
midshipman cannot marry without the con-
sent of the Navy Department, and few
desire TO ask it on H,4OO pay, with two
establishments 10 support-a mess Dill on
ship and a wife at home.
MlDsHIPMAN IN EMBRYO.
sweltering in the hot and humid atmos-
phere Of the midsummer nights I'm the
mammoth armory OF the Naval Academy
at Annapolis. the present fourth class Of
midshipmen, the last admitted TO the
navy, received its first lessons in the Sc
we're setting-up drill that is designed TO
take all unmilitary lines out of the neo-
phyte's physique and to give him in their
place a martial and soldierly bearing.
"Alertness" is the watchword and Tx
scientia Tridens" the motto of the Naval
Academy in its education Of the American
rnidshipman. He is during his tutelage a
class distinctive TO himself among his
countryrnen and with his own corps Of
naval officers. He has ever been noted FOR
his courage. capabillty and audacity 1t
was one OF his class, when the Prince OF
Wales was here threescore years ago, who
stopped him on the gangway OF the ship he
was visiting and engaged his royalty in
conversation. 1t was one OF the same grade
who. observing two commodores who did
not speak to each other, back to back, at
function. pinned their coats together and
for the denouement lost his own appoint
rnent In the navy 1t was another. e. +.
Beale, in the early 40s Of the last century,
who. hearing tho cry of Man overboard!"
I.rf..
the sea on a dark night from his own ship,
the Columbus then In the harbor OF Genoa,
and seized the drowning man and held him
up until they were both rescued.
IL was another Of this branch Of the SER
vice. Midshipman John V. Babcock, who
scarcely out of the Naval Academy, when
his boat had been upset in the ocean break
ers. only few years since. threw himself
into the sea, and swan half mile in an
ocean filed with sharks and uncapped the
torpedo that he had been ordered to uncap
IN the maneuvres then In progress. 1t was
quite natural, when this brave young off,
Ger reached the presence of his superiors,
that. with beaming countenances. they said
10 him: That's the stuff American naval
oaicers are made of" Indeed. the seniors
srs always intensely gratihed when eny
snecial act of daring or efficiency is per-
formed by their juniors. He'll dor ex-
claimed an enthusiastic officer when, CIV
ing a drill to a division Of midshipmen on
the yards and masts. he saw one Of them
aloft lose his hold and start to fall to the
deck below, but who stopped his precipi-
tate flight by seizing and holding on to an
other rope on which ne had caught hand
hold as he came down.
EVOLUTION OF THE MlDsHIPMAN.
Tho American midshipman is evolved
from the whole body Of the American peo-
ple. He is representative In his character
democratic IN his evolution. There is no
enobbery in the Naval Academy corps. The
small farmers son. the mechanics boy the
LAD who had wrought with his own hands
IN the mill OF behind the counter. and the
scion OF the millionaire meet around the
eommon board and walk on the same plane.
II "a the Republic Of Merit in the greatest
naval school IN the world" The midshipmen
sbhor and oppose any other social or ON
cjsI standing among themselves except that
sedvsd from the customs Of the school ana
the rewards of the service. Each midShip-