Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-01-11
MEN TO WIN
ACADEMY HIGH HONORS
Highest Scholastic Honors Ex-
pected To Go To One Of Two
Pacific Coast Men
MANY FROM THE RANKS

Wesley Mel. Hague, of San Diego,
the U. S. navy before entering the Ma
val Academy as midshipman. is very
likely to take highest scholastic honors
in the class which graduates next
June. If he does, il will be the first
time that youth appointed from the
ranks has obtained this great distinc-
tion: in fact, the first time one has had
a particularly high scholastic stand
ing.
The closest contestant of Midship-
man Hague for this honor is Midship-
man Lloyd Harrison. OF McMinnesville.
Oregon, so that il is evident that the
Pacific coast will have this honor in
either case. Hague stood number one
last year. and number three i'm his
first year at the Academy, while Har-
rison wa snumber one the first year,
and four last year. The two are doing
splendid wor kthis year, and fighting
hard for first honors, but il is believed
that Hague has slight lead and will
maintain it.
Anothed member of the class, ap-
pointed from the enlisted ranks who
has done fine scholastic work Is Ray
mond c. Ferris, appointed from Della
ware, but whose parents live in Ridley
Park. Pa. Ferris has an average of
better than eighty-five per cent for
both full years he has been i'm the
Academy, thus winning star" rating.
There are about dozen members of
the class who were appointed from the
ranks, and several of the others have
done notably good work.
The position of both Midshipmen
Hague and Ferris in the regimental
organization is on par with their
showing as scholars. Both command
battalions of the regiment. and are
called ''four-stripers. There are but
four of these at the Academy, and they
are only exceeded in rank by the five
striper," or midshipmen regimental
commander, who is William A. In
gram, the captain for the football
team. AS there are nearly five hun
dred members of the class, the rela-
tive standing of these young men as
students and prospective officers may
be judged
Except in the new fourth class.
where very large number of enlisted
men have been designated under the
law which just went into effect, the pro-
portion of former enlisted men i'm each
class is small. The opportunities of
obtaining elevated positions among
their fellows is no greater or no less
for these former enlisted men than for
anw of the others. There is absolutely
no difference in their treatment, and i'm
many cases the officers and instruc-
tors do not even know their former
status. The position which each mid
shipman obtains depends entirely upon
himself
For many years, the law has per-
mitted few enlisted men, of proper
age and qualifications, to be designated
as midshipmen. Many of these have
graduated, and are taking their places
In the service as commissioned Off
GERS. The best known in recent years
is Clarence o. Ward, of Nebraska, for
merly hospital apprentice, who
graduated in 1917 He was one of the
most notable athletes the Academy
ever had, being captain Of the football
and wrestling teams and a member of
the crew. His standing among his
classmates is indicated by the fact that
they elected him class president, while
his position with his commanding Off
Ger is proved by his designation to
command one of the companies.
The work done along different lines
by such young men as Ward, Hague
and Ferris, has, it is felt, vindicated
the policy of congress in providing a
larger number of designations for each
new class from the enlisted ranks.
Under the present law, one hundred
are namd for each new class. Mem
bers of the enlisted personnel of the
navy and marine corps are now in An
napolis preparing for the next en-
trance examinations. and there is rea-
son to believe that the full quota will
be furnished
st. Martins Services