The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-08-01
@6tS.s1a,Nv

c. Sayton. The itinerary OF the cruise includes
Brest Weymouth, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Gibraltar
and Popta belgrade.
It was in 1912 that the experiment Of putting
the middIes Of the two upper classes on batteshps
of the Atlantic fleet was first tried. The expert
ment proved great success. These practice
cruises much alike. The first night is usually
spent at anchor. while the middies are getting
settled in their quarters and being assigned to the
various technical divisions It's picturesque
night; landlubbers struggling with hanimocks
would make fetching circus stunt. At dawn the.
bugle rOuses them from uneasy sumbers and the
old-time cries are heard:
"Risa and shinel Up, you lubbers! Lash and
carry! Hit the deck. sailor Hey! Show leg
there!"
Thereupon the lubbers certainly rise. They may
or may not shine in strange world of deck
scrubbng and boiler-stoking and what not. How
ever, middies are now-as ever-a hard-boiled lot
and soon get down to business. They are usually
allotted the starboard side of the ship,swith the
regular, enlisted force on the port side and they
are sent In rotation to every part of the ship.
How the times have changed, now that steam
has suppanted sail! When Admiral Mahan-his
name is a Household word in the navy-begun
his days at sea common drill for the middies,
with the aid Of a gunners mate. was up topgal-
liant masts and yards and loose sail to a bowline"
To do 1t in three and half minutes from the time
the topmen and the masts started together from
the deck was first-class seamanshp. Nowadays
frst-class man tending water in the freroom takes
iust as much pride In holding the glass steady and
doing good job Of coaling the fires. Pretty soon,
with ships using oil for fuel the middies Will no
longer nave cause to dread the freroom; indeed.
oil has already almost superseded coal.
The gentlemen sailors" will soon be fixed so
nicely that they will not even be forced to listen
to the remark sarcastic, If the new secretary of
the navy, Curtis d. Wilbur, has his way. Secre-
tary Wilbur Is an 1883 Annapolis man himself
there's tablet in the gymnasium recording his
record high kick-and someone must have talked
real mean to him in his day. Anyway, he said at
the graduating exercises this year:
Peal leadership Is based upon respect for the
leader and such leadership can only be achieved by
the possession OF powers worthy OF Respect FRO re.
foundation for permanent leadership but there IL
an altogether different basis Of leadership which
finds Its source in the heart rather than the head
such leadership may command the ardent affection
and even devotion Of the follower.
Unless your rule over the $4,000 enlisted men OF
the navy be tempered by hrmness justice. SYM
pathy and courtesy their services In many cases
NAV be lost to the navy. Remember especially
that sarcasm biting wtticsm at the expense Of
a subordinate, especially II he IL an enlisted man
and mus incapable OF retaliation. is unmanly and
fatal to ones standing officer While the
sycophantic bystander may be amused. the object
Of 1t has received wound In his soul which may
It is safe rule. in dealing with man under
you to put yourself. by imagination. In his place
What / crave for you is that you may have and
be worthy of exercising moral leadership.
Mlddles Of the present day are not starved on
the batteships of the Atlantic fleet and when they
are at the academy they get pure milk and good
eats galore from the academy farm. Funny to
think of sailors running a farm. isn't II? But
that's Just what the bureau of supplies and &C
counts does. This particular bureau. by the way
is said to be one of the most efficient business
ganizations in existence. Rear Admiral David
potter is at its head and it is bank gents furnish
ings store. grocery store and nearly everything
else, all in one. And here's part of what Herbert
Corey says about the farm in the Chicago Daily
News:
II sounds Incredible. Sailors persons In bell
MINGLED breeches who go ahoyng about the land
But the sailors Of the United States navy are per-
Near Annapolis Md. the United States navy
owns farm OF more than 800 acres y vs. forced