Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-07-29
REPORT ON CRIBBING
READY FOR ACTION
Annapolis Cadet Examination
Cheating to Be Passed On by
Secretary Soon.
INVOLVES QUESTION OF SYSTEM
Personnel Of Instructors and Officers
Also Attacked by Culprits'
ATTORNEYS.

Considerable interest attaches TO the
report OF the court of inquiry which
report of thee ourt of inquiry which
investigated the charges of "cribbing"
on the part of certain midshipmen at
the Naval Academy.
Judge Advocate General Mclean.
who is making a review Of the pro-
ceedings and findings of the court. t.eX-
poets TO submit the matter to Secre-
tary Daniels on his return TO Wash
ington from Morehead. n. c.. Tues
day Executive action in the matter
involves consideration of the question
whether there is a need for changing
the methods of instruction or system
of administration or personnel at the
Naval Academy.
officers in charge of the Academy,
and their view is chared by officers in
the Navy Department, believe there is
nothing wrong with the academic adj
ministration or its personnel. and that
the attacks made upon the system"
represented as having been establish
ed by the officers of the Academy are
founded upon prejudice or ignorance
Of conditions there.
Others. however, are convinced. and
have been so representing to the Sec
retary of the Nayy.that there is urgent
need Of radical reforms in the methods
Of administration and discipline at the
Naval Academy, and that there should
be an overturning of the present per-
cnu-,og ss,d a nott euro,-frto,dout 40
companying the report OF the Russell
court Of inquiry are statements made
by Rear Admiral Fullam, superintend-
ent of the Academy, and other officers,
.resenting allegations made against the
authorities before the court Of inquiry
and defending the system Of admins
tration at the Academy
The statements assert that the Off
GERS responsible for affairs at the Ma
val Academy feel that they cannot be
held responsible for the misconduct OF
few midshipmen who have violated
rules and defied authority and whose
friends, il is alleged. have been seek
ing 10 lay the blame upon a system. "
Moreover the officers of the Academy
tary of the Navy that il would be fatal
to academic discipline TO introduce po-
litical influence or personal sympathy
in final determination of the euIpa-
bility Of those who nave been under
investigation.
Superintendent Fullam is said to
have protested against certain charges
and allegations made by Representa-
tives Hay and Carlin, of Virginia, dur
ing the course of the investigation at
the Academy Capt. Lloyd IA. Chand-
lcr, commandant OF midshipmen, who
is now acting superintendent of the
Academy, and Chaplain William H.
Cassard. also fled statements with the
court One of the statements submit
ted is a reply to the allegations that
the accused midshipmen were unjustly
even brutally. treated when segrega-
ted on board the gunboat Mercedes. u
is said that the segregation of the mid
| lies was at the instance of the assist
ant 70 the Judge advocate OF the court
in order that members of the"squad'
might not communicate with certain
| important witnesses, ,who,it was claim
ed, were being threatened; that these
defendants received better treatment
and more freedom better food and
greater comfort than any of the seven
hundred midshipmen on the practice
ships then in Annapolis, that no unfair
or harsh treatment was visited upon
them and that all representation Il
that effect were attempts 10 weaker
the authority Of and lessen tEe respect
due to the commanding officer of tn,
station, Rear Admiral Fullam.
One statement from a high official o
the Academy contains a rejoinder tC
the allegations made by representa-
tives that the practice OF "gouging" ol
'cribbing" and the various methods o
surrepticiously obtaining examination
papers were the result OF a system
for which the superintendent and 9th
er officers were responsible. Th'
memoranda point out for considera
ton by Secretary Daniels the belief o
the officers at the Academy that tn,
policy of those in authority has al
ways included pleas and warming
against infraction OF academic rules
and that there has been nothing lack
ing in the effort to incu1cate persona
honor as an indispensable attribute o
midshipmen. In another statement /
is pointed out that it has never beer
deemed necessary to regard midship
men as burglars