The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1913-11-20
MIL ON
Is THE CRUISE
First and Second Glass Wen Of Ann
apoIis Enjoy Themselves When on
Big sattieships-Methods
Are Changed.

New York.-Each evening there may
be e in the theater district some OF
the midshipmen from the United
States ships Delaware and Arkansas
the former at anchor in the North
river at Eighty-sixth street, the latter
in the Brooklyn navy yard. They are
on theater liberty, says the New York
Sun.
On each battleship Of the Atlantic
feet. with but two, exceptions, are ten
middies OF the first class and fourteen
of the second. Those of the first class
when in blue service uniform may be
Identified by the two gold stripes on
their sleeves, while those of the Sec
ond have only N When in white
service uniform there is no way of
distinguishing between them.
Until last year the three classes re-
naming in the Naval academy at Ann
apolis. after June week had disposed
of those graduating, were slowed away
In three of the smaller ships and sent
on a practice cruise. Often they went
abroad; sometimes they made only
crab cruises" up and down the coast.
The Massachusetts, the Iowa and
| the Indiana were usually chosen for
this painful operation, and in time
have become famous in speech and
song. One song in particular gives
vent to the midshipmen's feeling In
regard to tue Massachusetts,. 1t Is
entitled the "Ballyhue Massie."
Seasickness. drudgery, wearisome
drills, unrelaxing discipline, food OF a
precarious nature, hammocks tc
which they were unused and little wa
ter for bathing We're only a few of the
hardships the midshipmen had to en-
dure. Spice vas frequently added by
the coaling of the ship, at which ever!
one had to help and which lasted from
early morning till we'll on into tho
next morning, with only a few minute!
off at different times for coffee ant
sandwiches. When 1t was at last fin
ished every vestige of clothing worl
had to be thrown overheard or givel
away.
Port and the liberties that the,
might make therein were the onl,
things the midshipmen had to loo!
forward to, and even the last of thes'
was longed for the most. Usually
however, they had a glorious time II
each town, and it was with a sigh tina
the anchor was weighed and the shi.
headed toward sea.
J The last foreign port touched wa
usually Funchal, and then only thre
III un1Jyc-1 or h1foro tha~ haforn tho
) would reach Annapolis and disembarl
At last the cruise would be over an
, they would start on September leav
in a rundown condition.
Finally some one high up saw tina
! the whole system was wrong-tha
they were making automatons instea
Of officers from midshipmen. A ne
! scheme was devised. Last summe
1t was tried for the first time an
= worked so we'll that they are contil
: uing with 1t. ri
: Now only one class, the %youngster
(past plebes), are sent OF a cruise {
the old style. This year their cruis
is exceptionally we'll planned, takin
in Antwerp (Paris), Cadiz, Seyill,
Gibraltar and Funchal. There is
e possibility of their touching at Xii
after leaving Antwerp.
In the meantime the first and Sc,
pnd classes, having passed throug
u this stage. etdistributed among til
various ships of the fleet. where the
serve in the capacity of Junior officer
The general range of knowledge thu
gained is wide. for they become accu
toned to the real way in which thing
are done.
: The ships on which they are st
q toned may at any time be sent abroa
= to South America. to Panama or
z Narragansett bay for target practic
q At the present time, while part
d them are in New York. others are
y Newport. some are in Mexican por'
and some at our southern drillir
grounds. Thus, through the tire
= summer months the midshipmen al
placed in such a position that the
4 acquire real experience as officer
They stand watches, serve as aids
. the executives, the navigator, etc, dri
the men. take command of a turr
during gun drill and tin general lear
to assume responsibility.
In port their duties are somewh;
lightened and they are allowed a ce
tain amount of liberty. On weekday
Of those in New York, each may
ashore every other day. They sta
at 400 p. m. and must report the
return to the officer of the deck
: IL: 90 p. m, unless it is theater nigh
= Two nights of the week are theatt
nights. and the liberty then continue
Till midnight. To reach the ship /
, twelve it is necessary that one lea,
the theater at eleven. In this wa
- the middies may be, nerved up avail
Ing the climax when some one in tt
party nudges the others and whisper
y L IN: - ~