The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1919-08-14
OUR naval SCHOOL
Origin and Rise Of the Grand In.
stitution at Annapolis.
BANCROFT GOT 1T STARTED.

BANCROFT GOT IT STARTED.
He Worked For lts Establishment With
untiring Zeal, and It Was Formally
Opened on Oct. 10, 1845-our Previ-
Gus Naval Schools.
We had a military academy almost
half century before we had naval
academy. 1t was not until the admin
lstration Of President James X. Polk
that the government thought 1t neces-
sary to establish a naval academy at
which young men could be educated
for that part of our protective service
George Bancroft was the founder .of
the United States Naval academy
which was at. first called the Naval
school, 1t was formally opened at An
napols on Oct. 10. 1916. For several
years prior to this effort there was
school working along similar lines at
| the Naval asylum In Philadelphia.
where the midshipmen prepared them
selves for examination and promotion.
The school was reorganizcd in 1850
| and the course was increased from FIVE
to seven. the first and last two years
| to be passed at the school, the inter
venins years ut sea. At this time the
separate departments Of instruction
were established, vessel was pro-
vided and annual practice cruises were
instituted. In 1851 the requirements
Of sea service were abolished, leaving
the course four consecutive years Of
study.
At the outbreak of the war in 1861
the Naval academy was removed to
Newport. r. L.. where it remained un.
til the summer of 1865. when it was re-
established ut Annapolis. In 1870 the
title of cadet m.dshipmcn was sub
!. stituted for midshipman. and three
years later the course was increased
by the addition Of two years sea scrv
ice In cruising vessels. mt the expira
ton of which the cadet midshinmah
returned to the Naval academy for ex
animation in professional subjects
prior to graduation.
!. Previous II the establishing of the
Naval acadcIly several attempts had
, been made to establish training schools
. for officers and sailors Of the navy. In
1888 Captain NJ. C. Perry suggested
!, school for engineers. but little was &C
!. complished before Bancroft called tho
meeting III Philadelphia Which decided
the establishing OF the present school
:. At first there was considerable OF
wranglc as to where the school should
be located. The site finally chosen wa'
!. an old army post known rs Fort Sew
;. ern, located on the point of land which
: forms the eastcrnmost extremity OF th
= city of Annapolis and lies between tn
harbor and the Severn river. Poor a
y the place was in the eyes of Bancroft
. he saw that it was far :ess likely t
challenge congressional criticism thai
:, more pretentious habitation. and be
u sides. as the board of naval officers ha'
. said. the fact was undeniably true tina
:. 1t might "be enlarged and perfected a
y some future time"
u Fort Severn was duly transferre
n By the war department to the nav
% on Aug. Is. 1915, and fortnight afte'
D. ward Secretary Bancroft publishe
le his ''plan." which. together with tn
"a regulations subsequently prepare
IS hy Commander Buchanan, governe
IS the workings Of the school until 1SJ
~ The first superintendent of the Nav,
n academy was Commander Frankli
lg buchanan.
Up At II O'clock on the morning Of DC
10. 1915, all hands assembled In OF
or Of the recitation rooms. and the supe
10 intendent, after brief but pointed a
ng dress, IN which he announced
he should exact rigid compliance with
ue laws, orders and regulations. declare
IN the school open. The old buildings
Of the ancient army post at Annapol1
where the midshipmen began to :
ey ceive instruction. had been termed
lat Secretary Bancroft "a modest Shelf
mt for the pupils,' and it Is said that tn
he certainly deserved no more comp
Of mentary description.
Mr. Bancroft Mt once began plans
Art nave tue ucNueIuv luOle Nputthoutoo'
of housed, and he asked congress for
lot appropriation of SoS,000 to be expen
,ed ed for repairs. Improvements and
he structions at Fort Severn. Annapol
The secretary brought all his dip
macy and skill to bear and at last h
the profound satisfaction of receivi
the appropriation by an. ample
Is jority and of seeing the naval sch'
NV . Of the United States then become d,
co. 60 organized by law.
~. Thus ended the long fight for
Three days after the bill became Il
Secretary Bancroft directed the sup
intendent to enlarge the buildings q
! . construct new ones sufficient to
'o. commodate 100 midshipmen. I
small beginning was the foundat
~ of the present large and effective In
tuition. which trains the sailors In
anu way equal that furnished by .
.is' other country in the world.-Philat
phia Press.
us,
N~u, n~o 80 Mira Hin Eaa