Evening star., 1922-04-29
M|DD|ES HIT Plan
ASFALSE ECONOMY
Proposed CurtaiIment OF
Commissions in June Re-
sented by 1922 Class.

Members Of the senior class at the
United States Naval Academy, may
not feel that the government, unless
II changes the announced plan of
commissioning only 40 per cent of
the class in June, has broken faith
with them. These young men do
feel. however, that Uncle Sam will
be practising false economy if he dis
misses. with nothing but a. diploma,
359 midshipmen from the service.
after spending S11 ,000-this is the
estimate of the Navy Department-on
the education of each, and after i'm
plying to the successful candidate
for entrance that, if he behaved him
self and kept up in his studies. he
would enter the service he had. in
many cases, from patriotic motives
chosen.
This feeling was apparent among
individuals in the special detachment
or the senior class sent over here last
Thursday to serve as honor guards
at the Grant memorial unveiling. The
topic kept creeping into conversa-
tions with friends. and there was
widespread evidence of a state of
mind betokening keen disappoint-
ment. If not resentment The lads
argue well, at that.
First Full Course of Four Years.
AhC Si4So VI I'VE Is the NTSt Since
1917 that received the benefit of a
full four years course that would
really fit the students to step .di-
rectly into the naval service and be-
come of immediate practical value"
said one strapping midshipman Of
strapping, for that matter, as the
tallest were picked for this special
duty. irrespective OF standing, SO
that the group included those who
will and those who won't get com
missions under the present arrange
ments. Both groups, however, feel
exactly the same.
Instead of this logical procedure"
he continued. "the class of 1925 is
made as large as those preceding it
and it is proposed to educate its men,
bers also to become naval officers, and
then turn them back to civil life.
It's hard enough to stay in Annapolis
at all. Now the prizes will become
so few that the phrase. Many are
called, but few chosen is pregnant
one"
View of Another Cadet.
Said another cadet: -Four years
ago s78 of us. gathered from forty
eight states, took the oath of fidelity
to the nation. At that time the cry
was for a large number Of officers to
Navy. These boys had decided to alb
jure the possibilities of money-mak-
ing and devote themselves to service.
One year ago today they were ex-
pecting to be graduated. commission
ed and Joined with their brother off,
GERS at sea six months ahead of the
regular date.
Now. after four years of hard work
to achieve their ambition and with
only four weeks to go, it seems that
more than half their number will be
eliminated. Their education has been
q splendid one; it has taught them
seamanship, ordnance. gunnery and.
above all, leadership. but, although it
Is probable that most of them can get
jobs. it has hardly taught them to be
civilians.
rs it best to disappoint them and
dull the keenness of their respect for
the government which promised them
a certain thing four years ago? And
is 1t economy to turn them away. only
to educate others anew"
Boys in "Dead Earnest"
Let no one think these boys were
mot dead in earnest in what they
said. and in what they felt. Pa-h--s
the ones who are sure Of commissions
seem the most agitated. Ine.r ,uv>. 5
of their chosen careers are high ones.
Navies, they sincerely feel. have al