The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-30
Naval Officer Detailed by the Navy Department to
 Teach Seamanship
FULL EQUIPMENT OF
 NECESSARY OUTFIT
Outdoor Features Most Attractive and Include Military Drills and Short Cruises at Sea Under
 Competent Officers

The Gulf Coast Military academy at Gulfport, Miss, which has a splenolo military department, in charge or OH cers of the United States army, assigned to that work by the war department, mas been signally honored by being grahteu a naval department as well. This naval department is to be in charge of Lieut.. l.. R. Porterfield of the United States navy. and President Wilson has ordered four men-of-war cutters sent to Guif- port for use in training the students ol the academy. The Gulf Coast Military academy is probably the only school Tn America which will have both military and naval department under direct con- trol of regular officers from the Umtea States army and navy
 Lieutenant Commander Porterfied has already visited the academy and con- cluded arrangements for the opening Of the naval department of the school. In addition to the four men-of-war cutters which have been assigned to the work, the navy department has provided a full supply of all naval equipment necessary for the instruction of the students. large boat house of sufficient size to house the four cutters is now being built and other improvements are being made to be ready for the naval tra1nlng at the school
 The academy has access not only to the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico, but also to the sheltered waters of Black Bay and Bayou Bernard, one mile north of the campus.
 NT A IT,
 The navy department has detailed Lieutenant Commander Portertield to have charge of the instructon of the students, and to teach them all branches ot seamanship and the duties of the men on warships. Sailing, splicing, knot tying, rowing, swimming and other ordinary du- ties of seamen are to be included. Drills will be held with the ships two or three times each week. and once every two weeks on the occasion of the semi monthly holiday on Monday, short cruises will be taken by the students under the direction of the naval officers
 Every cadet will be required to learn to swim during the first two weeks after school opens. They will be taught to sail row and to maneuver boat. Tn addition to the practical work, there will be course in naval instruction, con ssting of 'The Deck and Boat of the united states NAVY, MC1ldy IiloeoiS of the United States Navy and Ma hans Influence of Sea Power on His tory" It is announced that the work in the naval department is not expected to interfere with the training in the mili- tary department.
 The United States war department has detailed First Lieut. Alfred A. Hickox, Sixth infantry, as commandant of the cadets and in addition has supplied full 1I11ifi camp outfit. A rifle range for instruction in firing will be constructed either on the campus or along the coast. This will enable a student attending the academy to get full instructions in the science as well as the practice of military work.
 Despite the fact that the Gulf Coast Military academy is only four years old, it has made remarkable strides. The first property purchased consisted of 20 acres along the coast between Gulfport and Biloxi, and commodous buildings to teach and house 125 students were erected. The school has succeeded in drawing patron age from all over the United States, as we'll as from foreign countries, 12 states and one foreign nation being represented at the last session and the attendance being 134. Alabama, Louisiana Missis- sppi and Texas were the leading four states in point of students furnished.
 OUTDOOR FEATURES
 One of the most attractive features of the school and one which appeals most strongly both to parents and students IS the outdoor feature. The sleeping quar- ters are great screened porches running the full length of all buildings. and every cadets bed is required to be placed, win ter and summer on these porches. This sleeping practically out of doors, with the splendid exercise of the drills and at sea, have developed many thin chested, delicate looking boys into strong and vigorous men. The classrooms are also arranged so that when the windows are opened. it is practically like being out of doors.
 During the four years of its history the academy has been able to secure wide recognition of it's academic work. It has sent students to practically every uni- versity of the south the United States Naval academy, Dartmouth Harvard and the University of California. In ali of these institutions, the representatives of the academy have made good records.
 STUDENT BODY LIMITED
 The principals of the academy are often asked if it is their purpose to enlarge the academy, and to this they reply in the negative It is pointed out by them that they intend keeping the student body to 150, thereby enabling them to give the best individual attention to the entire student DOuy, SOfnelnlng Wnfcn would De impossible were the size to be increa sed This year the academy had one teacher for every 15 students and the classes av- eraged F students each This enabled the teacher to call on every student in every subject at every class, thereby securing much better work because the student realized that there was absolutely no chance for him not to be called on. This results in every student preparing each lesson every day 9ss sa
 While the purpose of the principals is not to enlarge the academy. it is their intention to open junior school during the coming session. which will be located near the present campus The cadets of the junior school will be taught by the same teachers as those in the upper school. and will have their lunch and drills on the present campus under the di- rection Of Lieutenant Hickox and Major Bergman. But their dormitories. study rooms and study halls will be located about one mile from the present campus. {, The establishment of the lower school hase come in response to a demand for nonsectarian school for boys between the ages of 10 and 15 years. The lower school will be limited to 50 students HoYsveonzo D1ovyc n01uh1o