Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1924-08-01

sign Wesley Mel. Hague-tke latter an ex-enlisted
man who had just been graduated from the acad-
envy as an honor man-lnaugurnted campaign
to get enlisted men 'of officer callber." The in
coming class has 70 enlisted men In II.
An object lesson of what can he done in this
way Is the experience Of George Nelson Robillard
He enlisted In tho navy in 1919. He was sent to
the Oklahoma an apprentice seaman and went
through the regular routine for enlisted men. In
addition he attended the Oklnhoma's "Annnpoiis
class" which was orliuized aboard for the pur
pose of coaching enlisied cnpdldates He then
went TO Newport, II. l., and Joined the IN. A. y
O." This Naval academy preparatory class con-
tained the pick Of the nRvys enlisted men sent
from oil ships and stations to compete FOR An
napois appointments. Finally Robard
transferred 10 Annapolis, discharged from the
navy and sworn in as midshlpman. He was
graduated this year and has been assigned to the
New York navy yard.
A young fellow has to be a good deal OF q chimp
to get into Annapolis He must he between the
ages Of sixteen and twenty, unmarried He must
De OF good moral character physically sound, we'll
formed and Of robust constitution. The aprelltn.
mary physical and mental examinations are rigid
But they are easy compared with the aconstHnt
tests Of the course. From 40 to so per cent Is
dropped before graduation because of innbllItytO
keep up with the game. fsiomroo
Did you ever stop to think Of the responsibilities
OF the commander OF United States warshlp In
foreign waters even in times OF peacei Well II
Is something tremendous. Aside from being
sponsIbe for the safety of the ship and the small
army aboard, he represents the United States--he
is the United States to all ntents and purposes.
SO he must be fighting man. navigator, discipline
ran, diplomat and patriot-all kinds Of man, each
one just about 100 per cent efficient. SO Uncle
Sam cannot afford to waste time at his Naval
academy material that weakens under test.
The course at the Naval academy speciaiizes
nm, nff ha vaI Tna
includes the following: discipline, seamanship.
ordnance and gunnery, navigation. steam and
marine engineering and naval construction, cleo
trical engineering, physics chemistry, mathemat-
les, astronomy history, tactics. naval hygiene and
physiology, modern languages driving and physi
cal training. There 80 instructors practically
all Of them naval officers. The midshpman binds
himself for eight years. including the four in the
academy He must furnish his own clothing and
books and receives $3.50 year from Uncle Sam.
The Naval academy was. founded in 1S45 by
George Bancroft secretary Of the navy In Folks
administration. In those days 1t was called the
NAVAL school, and the boys were naval cadets"
Along about 1898 Uncle Sam complained to con-
gress that the buildings were old and inadequate
Congress told UNCLE Sam to go ahead and fix the
place up right Uncle Sam dld--to the extent Of
about $12000,O00 And along about 1908 Uncle :
Sam completed by far the finest and est-equipped
naval school In the world. There are 200 acres
include Bancroft hall, with Memorial hall at Its
CENTER Dahlgren hall. the Armory, the Seamnnship
and Gymnasium building the Steam Engineering
building aud the Chapel. with a dome 2i0 feet
high.
In short, the United States Naval academy Is
first-class institution This Is emphasized by
the fact that the present superintendent Is no less
a mon than Admiral Henry b. Wilson He Is him
self graduate Of the academy class OF 1881 and
thus has worked his way up through all the grndes
from midshipman to commander In chief OF the
Atlantic fleet,
The graduating class this year numbered 525.
They have been assigned by the Navy department
to ships and to shore stations.
Not all OF the graduates will remain in the
service About 90 have awaited themselves Of the
privilege Of resigning, in accordance with an or
der Of the Navy department. twenty-five hive
accepted commissions In the Mnrne corps and
seven have Joined the supply corps Of the navy
Commencement week at Annapolis Is o great
performance and attracts many visitors This
year there was a mimic war game in addition to
the dress parade The climax IN the farewell
ball" In Dahgren hail. This year Mrs. Wilson
headed the receiving line and more than 1000 at
tended the ball Secretary Wilbur presented the
diplomas and made the commencement address