Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-07-31

sign Wesley Mel. Hague-the latter an ex-enlisted
man who had just been graduated from the acad.
envy as an honor man-fnaugurated campaign
to get enlisted men "of officer caliber" The in
coming class has 70 enlisted men in it.
An object lesson of what can be done in this
way is the experience of George Nelson Robillard.
He enlisted in the navy in 1919 He was sent to
the Oklahoma apprentice seaman and went
through the regular routine for enlisted men. In
addition he attended the Oklahomas Annapolis
Glass; which was organized aboard for the pur-
pose of coaching enlisted candidates. He then
went to Newport, r. l., and joined the IN. A. p.
C. This Naval academy preparatory class con-
tanned the pick of the navys enlisted men sent
from all ships and stations to compete for An
napois appointments. Finally Robillard was
transferred to Annapolis discharged from the
navy and sworn in as midshipman He was
graduated this year and has been assigned TO the
New York navy yard
A young fellow has to be good deal of chap
to get into Annapolis. He must be between the
ages of sixteen and twenty, unmarried. He must
be of good moral character, physically sound, we'll
formed and of robust constitution The prellm-
mary physical and mental examinations rigid
But they easy compared with the constant
tests of the course. From 40 to 30 per cent is
dropped before graduation because of inability to
keep up with the game
Did you ever stop to think of the responsibilities
of the commander of United States warship in
foreign waters even in times of peace? We'll. it
is something tremendous Aside from being re-
sponsible for the safety of the ship and the small
army aboard, he represents the United States-he
is the United States to all intents and purposes.
So he must be fighting man, navigator, discipline
rian, 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 on material that weakens under test
The course at the Naval academy specializes
on requirements of the naval service. Instruction
includes the following: discipline, seamanship,
ordnance and gunnery, navigation steam and
marine engineering and naval construction, cleo
trical engineering, physics chemistry, mathemat-
ics astronomy history, tactics, naval hygiene and
physiology modern languages, drawing and physi-
cal training Theresare 80 instructors, practically
all of them naval officers. The midshipman binds
himself for eight years, including the four IN the
academy He must furnish his clothing and
books and receives $3.50 a year from Uncle Sam.
The Naval academy founded in 1915 by
George Bancroft, secretary of the navy IN Folks
administration. In those days it was called the
"Naval school, and the boys were naval cadets
Along about 1893 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 did-to the extent of
about $120000O0. And along about 1908 Uncle
Sam completed by far the finest and hest-equpped
naval school In the world There ere 200 acres
on the Severn river at Annapolis The buildings
include Bancroft hall, with Memorial hall at its
center Dahlgren hall, the Armory, the Seamanship
and Gymnasium building the Steatl Engineering
building and the Chapel with dome 21O feet
high.
In short the United States Naval academy is
a hrst-cass institution This is emphasized by
the fact that the present superintendent is no less
a man than Admiral Henry B. Wilson. He Is him
self a graduate of the academy class of 1881 and
thus has worked his way up through all the grades
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
10 ships and to shore stations.
Not all of the graduates will remain in the
service. About go have availed themselves of the
privilege of resigning, In accordance with
der of the Navy department Twenty-Five have
accepted commissions in the Marine corps and
seven have Joined the supply corps of the navy.
Commencement week at Annapolis is a great
performance and attracts many visitors. This
year there was mimic war game, In addition to
the dress parade. The climax is tile farewell
ball" in Dahgren hall. This year Mrs. Wilson
headed the receiving line and more than 900 at
tended the ball. Secretary Wilbur presented the
diplomas and made the commencement address.