The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-05

l.
the young graduate from the Unitet
| States Naval Academy at Annapolis fl
the following words:
Equipped with two modern laugu
ages besides his own. learned in tn,
law of nations, rounded in the fact
of ancient and modern history, in
structed in the art of speaking anC
writing the English language correct
lily, polished by experience, a practica
chemist, an electrician. patternmake-
"a machinist, an engineer. a boilermake
: and smith, a draughtsman and
foot soldier as well as a seaman, thu
graduate of The Naval, Academy has
,diploma OF which any man might b,
proud and future before him that an.
patriotic youth might envy"
A more complete outline of the worl
Iof the naval cadets has been writer
inN an article by DIR. Benjamin Frank
lin Roller and published recently b,
the New York Herald. 1t reviews tn,
work of the cadet after outlining hi
reasons for the belief that the United
States Navy is the real first line in an,
plan of defense against aggression.
I The opinions of President Wilson
Frederick Palmer, the war correspon
ldent, and several other men are quoted
Therein as stating that the navy should
be immeasurably stronger than an,
other navy in the world, inasmuch al
this country would have SO long ,
coast line to defend against any alier
iaggressor.
/ Defense Essential.
/ While admitting that the chief oc
'lcupation of the people of the United
states is citizenship, DR.. Roller assertl
That "a country may be absolutely anc
lever SO right and yet have need of self
Idefense against those who guide III,
ldestinies of hostile nations"
His article goes on to Bay:
The richest and the most desirabl,
country in the world HAS far the lar
lgest coast line, manifestly indefensibI,
Except by a large and efficient navy
whose efficiency in turn depends almos
Ientlrely upon having a complement
and an ample reserve OF highly edu
Gated officers and naval experts VIII,
in the event of war could guide an,
direct the movements of the navy anC
who could quickly and thoroughly trai,
and teach the enormous number of vol
unteers who would be certain to pre
lsent themselves
There is not a doubt in the worI,
that an army of ten million men wouIC
be available in short time to defenc
| this country against aggression Their,
is also no doubt that in such an emery
ency the almost Incompatible resource!
Tor this country would make 1t possibI,
ITO build rhany more battieships in Ar
incredibly short time. The funda
mental need, however, is battleships
guns and men, with highly trained Of
hcers to guide and teach the voIun.
Seers. to superintend the men in tn,
! making and building of ships and In
the installation Of guns, in the manoeu
lvering of ships in time of war, in tn,
manipulation Of machinery and in the
handling OF guns so that the nav,
would be known not only for its sig,
lbut for what 1t can do when called
upon.
1T takes years OF study and expert,
ence to make capable naval officer.
Discipline Noticeable.
To me the most noticeable things ir
the Naval Academy were discipline, hard
work. regularity and good health. It Il
also true that these are among the mos
| powerfully conducive to morality.
THE education at Annapolis is of g
very high class. 1t is theoretically equa
and practically far superior to that which
may be acquired at the majority OF ouI
best universities. This may be truthfully
said in addition to the fact that 1t Is moi
merely the only naval school in America
but is acknowledged to be the best nava
school in the world.
| THE students at the Naval Academy
are known as midshipmen. They receive
their appointment after passing civil
| service examination as follows:-Two fol
each Senator, delegate and Representa-.
tive in Congress- two for the District Of
! Columbia, ten from the United States al
| large and fifteen from the enlisted mer
| who have served a year in the United
States Navy. Those from the District OF
| Columbia and those at large are ap.
pointed by the President, while those
from the enlisted men of the navy are
appointed by the Secretary of the Navy
The President also appoints one from
Porto Rico.
| THE midshipmen's course covers four
years, at the end of which time graduate
with commissions as ensigns in the navy
All candidates at the time OF their ex-
| animation must be between the ages OF
sixteen and twenty They must be at least
five feet two inches tall IL between the
ages of sixteen and eighteen, and at least
| five feet. four inches, if between the
ages of eighteen and twenty. The mini
pounds. with an increase of three pounds
| for each additional year or fraction OF
year over one-half. Examinations are
held twice a year-in February and April
| in one or more cities in every State of
the Union. All candidates must be I'M
married, and any midShipman who shall
marry, or who shall be found to be mar
ried. before his final graduation shall
be dismissed from the service.
| Strict Examinations.
Both the mental and physical examina-
! tons for admittance are very strict. re-
quiring a good moral character, a sound
| body and constitution, good natural cap
acity, an aptitude for study, suitable
preparation In the fundamental branches,
Industrious habits, perseverance and an
Obedient and orderly disposition.
"A sound body means that the candi-
| date must have a good, strong Constitu-
ton, reasonable degree of development
good general health, have no cachexia
anemia or infection, have no deformity
epilepsy or impaired sense. Chronic nasal
catarrh, fits, impeachment of speech, heart
disease, hernia. bad teeth or color blind
ness are sufficient to cause the rejection
! of the candidate.
GAS soon as a midshipman has been
appointed he is put on pay Of $500 a
year and his keep. On admission each
midshipman must deposit $23l "a for cloth
ing and other articles and $50 deposit for
| books
During the eight months of academic
work the 'plebes' or fourth-year class
have but one afternoon a month for their
NUN ono SDepfal 10 V