New-York tribune., 1920-06-06
Special Dispatch to Tho Tribune

ANNAPOLIS, June 5.--"June Week
at the Naval Academy, which in times
past had been, officially at least, based
upon the presence Of the Board Of Visi-
tors appointed by the President and
Congress to inspect the institution and
report upon it's needs, was completely
changed in character this year, and
was d commencement season pure and
simple, ending with the graduation of
the .irst class and the farewell ball
or Thursday. The board met and COM
pleted it's work early in May, so that
the graduates were uncontested in their
occupancy o. the position OF impor-
tance during the week.
/. is expected that the change will
be a permanent one. The official visi-
tors see the academy when it Is work
ing under normal conditions and not
those which attend period of ex-
treme excitement and special interest.
in order to present an outline of the
routine at the academy, it is necessary
TO keep the midshipmen almost con-
stantly engaged in some branch of drill
or practical exercises, and little Op-
portunity is given them for mingling
with the relatives and friends who
have come so far to see them. That
this condition was different this year
makes the change an agreeable one to
the midshipmen and their friends
Midshipmen Enjoy Privileges
= During the week. the midshipmen
enjoyed unprecedented privileges. On
Monday the only event was the dcdica-
tion OF the Farragut memorial window,
with which. the midshipmen had moth
Ing % do in formal way. There
was an infantry drill Tuesday morning,
an artillery exhibition Wednesday
morning, and dress parade both even
ings, but the regiment was divided for
each time Thus, only few hours
we're xubtracted from the time given
10 social events and time spent with
relatives and friends. Graduation was
Thursday morning, day earlier than
usual. but the midshipmen had much
greater opportunities to seek their own
devices than ever before, and real
commencement week was voted q huge
success.
Naval Academy during the whole Pc
Rod, a splendid start having been
given by the athletic successes on the
preyio4s Saturday--tho victory OF the
nine over West Point, and the great
victories of the crews in the American
Henley at Philadelphia. The Naval
Academy closed the greatest athletic
year in. It's history in blazs OF
glory. and every member Of the Navy
contingent was in good spirits from
the start OF tho big week.
Graduates a Picked Class
Tho class which vas graduated on
Thursday numbered 280 members, and
is unique in the fact that it repre-
sez.a the upper half schoastically Of
the class which previous TO the aca-
demic year just closed had made up
the third class. Tho lower half com
posed the second class during the last
year and will be graduated next June.
Tbs situation arose through tho short
ening OF the course TO three years dur
ing the war and the restoration of
the old four-year course.
When the urgent need Of moro naval
officers developed as tbs United States
entered tho war, the course at the acad-
sany was shortened by omitting the
second cIass, and when it was de-
eidsd 70 return TO tho old routine. tho
elasss was restored by tho division Of
me third classs on basis Of scholar
sslD. The graduates OF this wsek ars.
therefore. = pfFked body of students