Evening star., 1934-05-20
ACADEMY GREETS
FRENCH CRUISER
Ambassador de Laboulaye
and Jeanne dare Person.
mel in Annapolis Scene.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
ANNAPOLIS, Md, May 19.-Mar-
tial music and roaring guns formed
visit Of the French Ambassador, Andre
de Laboulaye, and officers and mid
shipmen from the French cruiser
Jeanne dare to the Naval Academy.
Thirty officers and approximately
100 French midshipmen landed from
the cruiser for tour of the academy
40 minutes before the Ambassador
arrived from Washington to be re-
ceived by Rear Admiral Thomas C.
Hart, superintendent Of the academy,
with full military honors.
The French officers and lnidship-
men came ashore in motor boats,
manned by the French sailors in their
white, blue colored uniforms and
wearing white caps topped with red
pompons. As they stepped ashore
a group of American officers saluted
and joined them for the trip about
the grounds and buildings.
U. S. Middies March By.
Just as the boats flying the French
tri-color came alongside the wharf
the American midshipmen were
marching through the grounds to
Bancroft Hall, returning from classes.
The French midshipmen standing in
the boats watched with interest as
the groups filed by.
While the French officers were
escorted to the buildings Of the
academy group the French midship-
men were taken to Bancroft Hall,
where they were greeted by 80 French
speaking midshipmen, who had been
assigned as escorts.
Many French officers and midship-
men assembled near the Administra-
ton Building where Admiral Hart,
and his staff in full dress uniform, q
Marine guard, and the academy band
waited the arrival of the Ambassador.
AS he stepped from his automobile,
the Marines presented arms, the band
gave four ruffies and dourishes, and
played the French national anthem.
At its conclusion a salute Of 19 guns
was fired.
Accompanied by Admiral Hart, the
Ambassador went to the crypt of John
Paul Jones, in the academy chapel,
previously visited by many Of the
French officers and midshipmen. He
then embarked for the Jeanne dare,
receiving military honors again as ne
left the academy.
Last Academic Day.
The American midshipmen. who
are ending the last day Of the
academic year today. were at infantry
and seamanship drills while the
French visitors sauntered about the
academy. Groups gathered to watch
the marching of the batallions and
the boat handling on the Severn.
The Ambassador returned from the
cruiser in time to watch the American
midshipmen at their midday meal
formation, before lunching with Ad-
miral Hart. The French visitors
lunched with the midshipmen regi-
ment IN Bancroft Hall.
The French midshipmen were much
interested in the course of study OF
the academy They said there were
about $50 in their naval training
school, all appointed as the result Of
competitive examination. The first
year they are known as cadets, the
second as aisparants de-marine. Their
third year is spent on the training
ships as ens-eigne de vaisseau. They
carry on professional studies aboard.
The cruiser also carried two sea-
planes and all midshipmen study
aviation and take training flights.
The majority were anxious to watch
the base ball and lacrosse contests at
the academy. They said that they
had never seen a lacrosse game and
little base ball. At the French school
the athletics consist of tennis, SWIM
ming, track and soccer.
The visitors will attend an officers
hop tonight at the academy, to which
the members of this years graduating
class have been invited. Capt. Yves
de Vaisseau Donval. commanding the
cruiser, will be the dinner guest Of
Admiral Hart.
Visitors will be allowed aboard the
Jeanne dare on Monday from to 5
pm. Boats will leave from Philoc
Landing at the Naval Academy.