Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1914-02-20
ENLISTED MEN TO BE
APPOINTED TO HAvY
Bill Of Chairman Padgstt Of
Naval Affairs Committee in
Congress.
DANIELS WOULD APPOIsT Is.
Said To BE- Hit At Navy Saebbsry
Sailor "Pfsp" Sehools Pronosad

Secretary Of the Navy Daniels Il
said to have delivered another blow
at so-called navy suobbishness. Yes.
terday the Secretary sent to Chair
nan Padgett, of the House Naval
Affairs Committee, q bin allowing
the s. cretary Of the Nav TO an
point annually to the United States
Naval Academy, this city, twenty.
five enlisted men, picked from the
service. The enlisted men, upon
graduation, would become officers.
lr time il is expected the line
If social cleavage between the Off
GERS and the enlisted men-dear to
the heart of the man with the
shoulder straps and often source
Of bitterness 70 the common sailor
would be abolished Naval officers
ia Washington are indignant at this,
the latest, attack made by the Sec
retary on the exclusiyeness OF the
commissioned ranks.
In explaining the features Of he
measure the Secretary declared
that II was in line with his general
policy for an educational system in
the navy. tie has already established
schools on shore and on shipboard
through which sailors are offered CD.
portunities TO learn everything from
the "rule Of three" to dynsmica and
electricity.
The sailor school he now proposes
TO make "pIep" schools for the Ma
val Academy, 80 that these younger
sailors desiring to become fIll.hedged
officers with the prospect Of eventu-
ally becoming admirals can qualify
for entrance to the Naval Academy.
The bill as drawn by the Secretary
himself provides that the appoint.
ments shall be in the order Of merit
after competitive examination. This
feature, it is believed will insure
fair opportunities for all who ara
eligible. He proposes by the bin
that they should not be eligible for
application or entrance 20 the Acad-
envy until they shall have served ut
least two years in the enlisted ranks.
Otherwise be fears large numbers
of young men able 20 afford prepara-
tion for the Academy in the usual
way would join the navy just 70 take
the examinations and failing 20 pass.
would become dissatisfied The two
years period is establiahed as
minimum and would not bar those
who have served longer, provided they
shall not have passed the age Of 22
years.
Tho Secretary expressed the be-
lief that after his shore and shiD
schools for enlisted men have been
unds way long enough there viii be
no difficulty in obtaining more than
twenty-five annually who could meet
successfully the Naval Academy en-
trance examinations. There would
soon be, he estimates, from 40 10 80
Of these men from the ranks at the
Academy at all times. lie regards the
innovation as the most important he
has yet attempted fer the betterment
Of the condition Of the enlisted men.
1T makes it practicable, he
said, for young men to 80 from the
ranks 70 a commission; il will have a
fine effect on the young enlisted men
who have a chance for the prize It
will send to the Academy as excel.
lent material as the menlwho now 90
there represent; in fact, the boys who
have been tried out by two or three
or four years as enlisted men, their
appointment under severe competition
with their fellows, may we'll be
among the leaders not only as mid
shipmeu at the Naval Academy but in
after life as officers.