The Washington times., 1915-08-30
COLUMBIA ], AIDS
NAVY IN ITS WORK
Department Sends Young Off,
GERS There to Study Engi.
neering.

Through routine order issued by the
Navy Department by which nineteen
and one ensign on duty at
the Naval Academy. Annapolis. have
been sent to Columbia University 'for a
course Of study" there is made known
an activity Of the navy in the way Of
what may be called 'the higher pre-
paredness" that has had some striking
results in the two years that it has
been in practice. ..
The marked departure In the ''en-
gineing" Of navals vessels alone may
be credited to great extent to the
course Of studies conducted under the
direction Of Columbia University. 1t Is
not too much to say that tho new
electric drive" engines now building FOR
the great battleship California are the
with a similar type of engine on
the naval collier Jupiter by Lieutenant
Bruce. who was one of the students OF
Columbia In this postgraduate engi-
neering course.
In common with most new departures
In our Navy Department. this plan OF
having junior lieutcnants who develop
a special fitness for engineering In its
higher branches when in active service
being ordered to a two years post
begun under impeding circumstances.
Suggested by Admiral Cone.
Beginning its third year of practice.
It was first suggested six years ago by
Rear Admiral Cone. the engineering
chief of the navy at that time, who
had breadth OF vision wide enough to
see that II young officers with some
years Of active duty behind them could
take postgraduate courses in one Of
the finest graduate engineering schools
OF the country they could bring back to
the navy for its good the Ideas they
had assimilated in such courses Of
study.
1t took a year before anything was
actively done In the matter. and then
Commander Morton. who was director
of the engineering school at Annapolis,
United States that had graduate en-
gineering schools. AS a result OF this
tour the school Of Columbia University
was selected as the best one for the
scheme hung fire.
Co-operates With Annapolis.
There was a disposition on tho part
OF some of those working for the plan
to have the student-officers take a
years course at Annapolis and then go
to Columbia But it was feared that
ing In its results. that the students
would still be working inside the navy
instead of from outside 1t. Eventually
1t was decided that the first year should
guidance Of Columbia professors from
the engineering school. with the second
year actually at the university in New
York.
AS the course works out the officers
appointed. to 1t have usually been on
I,at,, f0r "a
lected for the postgraduate course they
are ordered to Annapolis for a years
course of study. and in the summer
intervals. before their SECOND year be-
four months doing practical work in
the experimental stations conducted by
the Navy Department at such places as
Annapolis. the New York navy yard
or at the General Electric Company's
plant in Schenectady.
Officers Receive Degrees.
The course Of Columbia includes post
graduate work in mechanical and cleo
trical engineering, metallography
(Which concerns the structure Of metals
and has its chief function practically
ing both telegraphy and telephony. At
the end Of the term these officers re-
ceive the usual degree awarded by Co
lumbia for years work In a graduate
SCHOOL, ana commencement Oay, Dy tne
way. Is the only time these officers are
ever seen in uniform. The average age
Of the officer student taking this course
Is twenty-eight years.
To the men who graduate at Colum-
bia the United States navy pays the
compliment Of putting them in the fore.
front Of their profession on active
service.
Lieutenant Furlong, the chief radio
officer of the Atlantic feet. Is one OF
the Columbia graduates. and the two
officers in charge of the wireless plant
| in Sayville. L. l.. Leutenants Clark
and Windsor. are also graduates Of the
school. Commander Morton, who In
| vestigated the engineering schools fol
| the Navy Department five years ago, Is
over in the war Zone now, in command
Of the Scorpion.
Rear Admiral Griffin now at the
| head of the engineering department OF
| the navy. Is one of the most earnest
| advocates of the course at Columbia
and since he has been Secretary of the
Navy Josephus Daniels Is also one OF
| its warm friends. But the greatest heir
} this course has is in the officer students
| themselves. who are among the hardest
workers IN the university when they
| ct