Trench and camp. ([Admiral, Md.) 1917-1919, 1919-06-12
GRADUATING EXERCISES AT
ANNAPOLIS ACADEMY.
ny mn. THOMAS w. LINGLE,

S 3x WMs THOMAS W. LxNGLEs
unnn Religious Director. Y. N. G. A.
After year and nine months with
y the French and American armies,
{ mostly overseas. q day with the Navy
Wes an experience Of great interest
~ me. Friday. June 6. took an cleo
II trio car at Camp Meade for my Nrst
glimpse Of Annapolis and to attend
graduation exercises at the Naval
*Academy. The overcast skies and re.
zreshing bree1p. breaking the long
Fsccessioh Of hot days at the camp,
scntributed- to the pleasure OF the
occasion.
* ~ soon 40 our cars reached the out
skirts OF this interesting old colonial
town We observed that the khaki Of
the Army had given place to the white
fcf the Navy. Even the NJ P.s on the
streets OF Annapolis are all in spot
less White A few men in khaki from
Canp Meade and elsewhere. ofacers
ana privates, were in attendance at
the exercises. but they took a back
seat, while the men In white ruled the
has.
person not accustomed to the
ways Of the Navy could not be sup
ppsfd to know that admission to
Araduating exercises at the Academy
exclusively by card. Where was
my cArd7 Well, that problem had to-
ne solved, and solved 1t was by my
<o;aS direct to the chief ohicer in
authority at the entrance to the audi
torlnnn and frankly acknowledging
w ignorance and innocence Of q card
b admiselon.
Qnce inside, Il. found that several
thonsand people had preceded me.
& The auditorium, II we. may call it
Z Nh that name, liz upward of q hun
dred yards In length and about ONE
fourth that in width. The platform
Vas located at the extreme end, and
cn IN were seated the superintendent,
Rear Admiral Scales. Admirals Mayo
Nnd R0dman. various others high in
naval circles, heads of departments
Al the academy. the Secretary Of War;.
and last, but not least, the Secretary
a. the Navy, who occupied the seat
0E honor, all wearing the white suits
0k the Navy. excepting the two cab
met oksicers. Immediately in front
pf thts distinguished group sat the
SO men Of the graduating class. SIM
ilarly attired. On either side Of the
class were seats reserved for sew
e1al hundred ladies and gentlemen
favored with special cards Of admis-
Nlens The remaining two-thirds of
Khs hall was occupied by the UNDER
sfad6ates and their officers, who first
Aid some marching around. and then
look their stand for the dayv-all in
( navy blue. They all stood in their
position during the two hours con-
sumed by graduating exercises, ex-
nepting those who dropped in their
tracks and were carried out by their
eomrades Whether they all really
Kainted. or whether 1t was in part
ruse. am not prepared to say.
Am sure however. that it was great
a6nf warmer on the ground floor than
Iii the gallery where stood for the
N4zne length OF time, and the ventila-
Lien was not so good. Among that
1nxge humber or men there is little
No4Dt That there were at least some
Mhoee physical condition for, the time
wac such az to make q stand OF two
hours very severe test of endurance.
The decorative scheme was one of
Nhb gtrtking features of the whole
nKair. bunting In white and in light
MFeen being suspended and entwined
everywhere in genuine naval album
glance.
After preliminary remarks by Supt.
scales. Secretary Daniels took the
kIopf to deliver the annual address.
81 simple effective manner he re-
tlsarsed the exploits Of the Navy in
winning the war. told of its progress
IL establishing the transatlantic air
line and enumerated a number of
problems yet to be solved by men of
lie Navy who may have the neSes-
nary genius. The impression left
ppap the young ensigns was that they
eEe coming into the Navy at the very
time when urgent problems are beck
ening 20 young men. OF talent and
aiDment and challenging the best
3. TIE men have 20 give. A feature
xeI tho ADDRESS was the applause which
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