Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-06
DANIELS AWARDS
M|DD|ES' DIPLOMAS
Hundred and Thirty-Five Men
Emerge From "the
Wilderness"
.FULL-FLEDGED OFFICERS
IN UNCLE SANS NAVY
Secretary Urges Bravery and Cour-
age-Frolics Follow Formal
Ceremonies.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
ANNAPOLIS, Md, June 6.-With the
addresses of Secretary Daniels of the
Navy Department and United States
Senator John Walter Smith. president
of the board OF visitors, 1875 midship-
men today emerged from the wilder
ness" az they call It. and are now
full-fedged officers in Uncle Sans
navy. The coveted "sheepskins'' were
handed out by Secretary Daniels, and
simultaneously the rank of ensign was
conferred upon the graduates.
The graduation exercises were held in
the armory. beginning at 10 O'Clock this
morning. with host of fond parents
and admiring friends, besides Rear Adj
mral Charles j. Badger commander-in-
chief of the Atlantic feet and other high
ranking officials of the service in at
tendance.
Urging the graduates to bravery and
courage, iirmness OF command, yet kindl-
ness toward the men under them and
maintenance of purity of the body, as
we'll as the mind and the soul, Secretary
Daniels delivered an appropriate address
Just prior to presenting the diplomas.
Preceding the Secretary. Senator Smith,
who had been designated by his fellow
members of the board to address the
graduates, made forcible argument not
only to the graduates themselves. but he
navy.
Thousands at Exercises.
Several thousand persons were present
at the ceremonies. Many were crowded
in the space about the official platform.
The authorities had, however taken pre-
cautionary measures to guard against
overcrowding and interruption of the
ceremonies. and the provisions of the or
der that all persons should be in their
seats at the time appointed for the cere-
monies was rig.dly enforced.
All entrances were closed after the
Secretary Of the Navy and others of
the official party passed through the
building and resumed seats on the plat
form. and no one was allowed admit
lance except during brief intermissions.
AS result a number of the visitors
Among those in the official party te-
sides the Secretary and members of the
board of visitors were officers of the
feet, the the, Governor IN Of Maryland: Presi-
Gibbons and the heads of the several
departments OF the academy, clergymen
and others
The graduates as usual occupied rows
of chairs Immediately in front of the
dais. while relatives and friends were dis
tributed on either side of the building or
had seats in the large balconies.
Smith the First Speaker.
No sooner had the official party re-
sumed seats than Rev. William G. Cas-
sard. chaplain of the academy, arose and
offered the invocation. Supt. Gibbons then
called upon Senator Smith as the first
speaker.
After a selection by the band Capt
Gibbons then introduced Secretary
Daniels, and as the Secretary arose to
deliver his address he was greeted
with prolonged applause.
After closing his address with high
compliment to the graduates Secretary
Daniels delivered the diplomas. They
were picked from a receptacle by
Lieut.. Adolphus Andrews. aid to the
superintendent. The parchment for
honor" man of the class. was the
first handed out, and this young man.
who alta ned such an excellent scho-
lastic record throughout the whole
four years, was loudly applauded.
Then the diplomas of the other four
graduates who made the star grade
were presented. while the others were
given out indiscriminately. The Secre-
tary greeted each of the graduates with
hearty handshake, and there was much
applause from the audience, it being
more pronounced in the cases where the
student attained special honors in
scholastic work athletics. There are
five members of the class whose diplomas
were temporarily withheld, because of
physical disqualifications.
run Follows Ceremonies.
At the close Of the ceremonies the
middies engaged in serpentine dance
about the armory. as they sang out Of
the Wilderness and "Auld Lang Syne."
The third class made dash for Lovers
Lane" the graveled walks of which are
denied a MILDLY during his first year,
while the new first class went through
the lark Of throwing the graduates out
of quarters.