New Britain herald., 1917-03-19

mended by their commanding officer, and an officer zealous of maintaining the best traditions of the naval ser vice, will give preference to the ablest men under him. This places the high est honors of the naval service within the grasp of any young man who has "the fitness to win.''
 Life at Annapolis.
 The course at the Naval Academy at Annapolis :s four years, although the president has been given authori- ty, in the present crisis, to graduate . the senior class at once, and the sec ond class. after three years training. The curriculum may be considered in two phases: the first. comprising the first two years, dealing mainly with advanced mathematics, modern lan- guages. and other courses rot strict ly naval, The last two years are de- voted largely to the technical branches of the naval profession--navigati engineering, seamanship, machine de- sign, applied mechanics, electricity. ordnance and gunnery.
 Eight months of the year is spent at Annapolis; three months. June, July and August, is spent in cruising battleships, and the month of Septem- ber is spent on leave. Midshipmer are paid $50 per month, from whici, they pay all their expenses-food, laundry, uniforms, text books, etc, besides being required to save $22 per month for officers, uniforms and equip ment upon their graduation. Each graduate is immediately commissioned an ensign, Corresponding to second lieutenant in the army) his pay being $155 per month. " The regiment of midshipmen now musters about 1,200 strong, each con- gressman being allowed three ap- pointments from his district. The president of the United States ap- points ten midshipmen each year, at large. These presidential appoint ments are reserved, by custom, for the sons of officers of the army and navy, ! who are usually precluded from per- ! manentN residence in any place. by the | nature of their duties. The appoint 1 ment of 100 enlisted men from the 1 navy, each year, completes the
 sources from which the naval service draws it's men. Rear Admiral c. D.. | VTCelAAu, WHO VOI1udHuSu |AA0 AA&AAA0 l sas on the round-the world cruise. and later the second division of the At- lantic fleet. entered the navy as an apprentice. This is also true of Ad- miral W. IT. H. Southernland, who commanded the Pacific fleet, and was in charge of the naval forces cper- ating in Nicaragua in 1913.
 Presidents Personal Guard. The regiment of midshipmen, to- eether with the corps of cadets at 1 West Point. are always the personal guard of the president at his inaugu- ration. The academy course being for four years. every midshipman par l ticipates in one inauguration. and l generally, in later life as a commits
 stoned officer. in many more.
 l Midshipmen make three cruises dur ing their naval academy career, each l cruise being held during the three
 summer months. The itinerary of these cruises is laid out Gin time o1
 peace) to include the most interest ing places-Germany, Norway, Eng land, Gibraltar, etc. In 1915, 1t was
 considered inadvisable to send the
 training squadron in European waters
 on account Of the war, and they were
 therefore sent to San Francisco through the Panama Canal to view
 the Panama-Pacif Exposition.
 The standards of living, of disc1. tpline. of manhood, and of scholastic
 ability, are maintained at a high
 level. The pressing need of officers
 has not lowered these standards, a:
 was recently shown when the usua lpercentage of the midshipmen were
 obliged" (forced to resign) for de.
 fciency in studies.
 The young man who has an aptitude
 for the sea, who wishes to enter the
 naval service under the best condi
 tions who has the ambition to reacf
 the top, and is willing to do his ut.
 most to realize such an ambition
 such type makes the successful
 naval officer. Such g man has within
 his grasp the chance to become the
 commander-in-chief of one of tht
 worlds greatest fleets.
 Americas future is linked with sea power. Our merchant marine must
 become a reality, not vague hope: our navy must be powerful enough
 to keep the seas open. and our coastl