Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-06-01


was ushered in with a rush this morn
ng aud although there is always much
3f a sameness in ceremonies incident
Commencement Day, especially at a
military institution, where there is
nothing along the line of defamation
contests. society celebrations, alumni
and undergraduate ball games, and the
ike, there were several incidents and
The introduction of new wrinkles that
made the opening exercises this morn
ng somewhat different to the official
ceremonies of former years.
And, beside the program for the re-
mainder of the week, is not so much of
the stereotyped kind. as formerly
In the first place there was not the
slightest delay in the arrival of the
Board of Visitors, composed of members
of the Naval Affairs Committee of the
Senate and House of Congress, who
make the annual pilgrimage TO this city
for the purpose of inspections and
filing a report to the National Assem-
bly, on the needs of the institution, and
the official reception of which was the
opening number on today's program.
Six of the eight members of the
board are here. and the other two alb
sentees, Senators Swanson and Till
man, are expected to arrive by tonight.
The other members are Senator Boise
Penrose. Congressman J. Fred c. Tai
bott. W. j. Browning, Roberts. Riordan
and Williams.
The official reception took place
promptly at IL o'clock, as scheduled on
"Farragut Field" the great stretch of
grensward along the harbor and river
front, and the honors were performed
by the regiment, paraded under infan-
try arms. The official party, in car
riages. were driven to the Government
reservation and were met by Rear-Ad-
miral Fullam, superintendent, and
other presiding officers of the institu-
ton. After brief stay at the Super
intendent's Quarters, the Visitors, ac-
companied by the ranking naval Off
GERS, entered the carriages and we're
driven to the scene of the official re-
ception
The Midshipmen were drawn up in
company front, and as the official par
ty resumed places i'm the reviewing
stand, the Midshipmen presented arms,
while theAcademy band played flour
ish. The Middies were attired in their
new work uniforms of khaki, with
white caps, it being the first time they
have paraded in that regalia before
the inspecting officials. While the
Middies stood at present arms, the bat
terry of the station ship Rena Mer-
cedes doomed a salute of II guns in
honor of the officials
The salute at this juncture was one
of the new wrinkles, for. in former
years, it was the custom to salute as
he carriages bearing the official party
entered the Government reservation
With the official reception over. the
Midshipmen were paraded as regi-
men Of infantly and they executed tho
vaious formations of this branch of the
military with marked precision. They
passed in review in columns of fours
by companies. then went through the
bayonet charge formation. formed th,
hollow souare,t the street riot, and Other
evolutions, and finally passed off the
field in review by platoons.
In course of this drill, Superintend
ent Fullam, himself former drill off
Ger when, a number of years ago. h'
was on duty at the Academy. and was
the chief drill officer, took occasion tC
pay high compliment TO Lieut.-Com
mander Chuncey Shackford, who ha.
charge of the infantry work of the reg
iment, when he introduced that Officer
10 the members of the official board
A feature of the drill was the march
ing music furnished by the Midship
mems bugle and drum corps. which
was organized little more than a yeal
ago The corps is now composed OF q
students, and includes fifteen bugleri
and five drummers. The Middies play
ed a number Of ditties. which received
the commendation of the officials Th.
band. in the meantime, had ceaseC
playing entirely, just to give the Mid
dies chance TO show.
The members Of the Board assem-
bled at 3 o'clock this afternoon in tn,
Administration Building for organiza
tion by naming a president and ap
pointing the several subcommittee
to facilitate in the inspections. 1t was
reported that 'Marse. Fred Talbot. .th'
Maryland Congressman on the Board
would be chosen as the presiding Off
eial. owing OF his wide familiarity viii
fairs of the naval school. having serves
on the Board in previous years.
Uncle Fred. who is a Confederat,
Vet, appeared as usual in suit o
dark material. Of light weight. with ;
soft felt hat, Characteristic OF his at
tire for years. incidentally he has me
number Of old friends since his ar