Evening star., 1919-03-30
ANNAPOLIS TOHAVE
| UNIQUE JUNE WEEK
Biggest Class Of Graduates
and End of Wars Rules In
y sure Brilliant Event.
REAL SEA. EVOLUTlONS
Special Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
ANNAPOLIS. Md, March 29.-"June
week" at the Naval Academy. long
an event of national interest. will be
given character and interest this year
which it has never before approach
ed. For two years war conditions
have prevented the period of interest
and gayety which generally attended
1t, while the necessary restrictions
prevented the gathering Of the great
crowd which in years gone by had
assembled from all parts of the coun
try.
Restrictions will be greatly light
ened this year; program of particu-
the geat graduating class of more
than 450-greater by a third than
any which preceded it-wou1d insure
the assembly of vast number from
every part of the Union, even if the
attendance were confined to the rela-
tives and friends of the graduates.
However, a great many others will
be among the June week throng.
Farewell Sermon.
Unofficially June week" will begin
Sunday. June 1, when the chaplain of
the academy will preach a farewell
sermon to the graduates. Officially.
it will begin Monday, when the first
of the series of drills and practical
exercises will take place. 1t will
come to an end the following Friday.
when each member of the graduating
nj, III tvNl
senting a commission as ensign in
the Navy.
This year June week" will be a
commencement season simply. but
the character of the institution will
make commencement week unique. In
no other place is it possible to present
30 varied and interesting a series of
events to entertain and instruct those
who have come to see the place where
officers of the United tates Navy are
trained. Many of the same snappy
drills may be seen at West Point, but
only at Annapolis is there the op-
portunity to witness those exercises
and evolutions which belong ex-
clusively to the service afloat.
In former years the graduation of
official June week. The real purpose
of the drills and practical exercises
was to show to the board of visitors,
designated by the President and Con-
gress, the character of the training
that the Naval Academy gives the
young men sent to. it. The members
OF the board were received officially
on the first Monday in June, and
during the week the days were oc-
cupied by drills and practical work
which enter into the daily routine of
the midshipmen.
Same Exercs-s Continue.
For some years past the board of
visitors has not come to Annapolis
during June week, its members hav-
ing reached the wise conclusion that
they can learn much more about the
academy at a time when it is carry
ing out its normal routine, and not
when it is furnished up for it's gala
season. They come to the academy
at me other time. but the same sort
continues. for it has been found that
nothing suits the occasion better or
affords SO much pleasure to the thou
sands who attend each year.
There has been one development
which is much to the liking Of the
midshipnen and their friends. The
regiment is now SO large that not
all OF Its members will have to par
ticipate in each drill. They are par
celed of to the different battalions.
of his time taken up during the week
This year. with q larger regiment
than ever. the average midshipman
viii have an even easier time of 1t
during June week, yet the program
of events will be as large as varied
and as interesting as ever.
Greater interest will be taken than
ever in the drills. ceremonies and
practical exercises Of the midshipmsn
In some of the drills and in the cere-
AniA
rade. the whole regiment, 1000 strong
will be assembled, and will make a
more impressive appearance than ever
before.
There is hardly a department in
which there ~ill not be something
the feet Of twenty-four submarine
chasers, each los feet in length, will
take the place of the little launches in
which the battle evolutions used to be
carried out. The interest and i'm
pressiveness of the spectacle will be
augmented tremendously.
Brilliant Social Events.
Several large and brilliant social
events are traditions of June week.
There is the first class german" to
be held on Thursday evening. and lin
tied in SIS dances to members of the
graduating class and their partners.
From year to year, each class vies
with its predecessors in making it's
german the gayest and finest in the
history Of the academy Naturally
much is expected of this class. the
largest in the history of the institu-
tion, and with'a reputation for doing
things on big scale and in an eff
cfent way. Then there Is the June.
ball" on Friday evening. when the
Nv~ L.
the graduates in the greatest socia,
function OF the year. This is the big
opportunity of that class to show
what ii can do in a social way, and
the class already is making its prepa-
rations.
Among the incidents of the occasion
are tie preparations Annapolis IL
making to receive the great influx of
visitors. The June week crowd is too
much for Annapolis. though 1t does
Its best and stretches itself to its ut
most capacity. All the hotels and
boarding houses. the usual places of
public entertainment, are booked up
now to the very limit. and many a
proud family of Annapolitans, which
would ordinarily scorn the idea of
taking odgers. succumbs to the
temptation to entertain house guests
during this occasion-for a substan-
tisl consideration. More than one
thrifty housewife makes enough to
give the house that needed coat of
paint by renting that front room for
the big week.