Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 267, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 November 1913 — MIDDIES ON CRUISE [ARTICLE]

MIDDIES ON CRUISE

Discomforts and Hardships of of Former Times Unknown. First and Second Class Men of Annapolis Enjoy Themselves When on Big Battleships—Methods Are Changed. New evening there may be seen In the theater district some of the midshipmen from the United States ships Delaware and Arkansas — the former at anchor in the North river at Eighty-sixth street, the latter in the Brooklyn navy yard. They are On theater liberty, says the New York Sun. On each battleship of the Atlantic fleet, with but two exceptions, are ten middies of the first class and fourteen of the second. Those of the first class when in blue service uniform may be identified by the two gold etripes on their sleeves, while those of the second have only one. When in white service uniform there is no way of distinguishing between them. Until last year the three classes remaining in the Naval academy at Ann-_ apolis, after June week had disposed of those graduating, were stowed away in three of the smaller ships and sent on a practice cruise. Often they went abroad; sometimes they made only “crab cruises” up and down the coast. The Massachusetts, the lowa and the Indiana were usually choeen for this painful operation, and in time have become famous in speech and 6ong. One spng in particular gives vent to the midshipmen’s feeling in

regard to the Massachusetts. It is entitled the “Ballyhue Mhssie.” Seasickness, drudgery, wearisome drills, unrelaxing discipline, food pf a precarious nature, hammocks to which they were unused and little water for bathing were only a few of the hardships the midshipmen had to endure. Spice was frequently added by the coaling of the ship, at which every one had to help and which lasted from early morning till well on into the next morning, with only a few minutes ofT at different times for coffee and sandwiches. When it was at last finished every vestige of clothing worn had to be thrown overboard or given away. Port and the liberties that they ifligbt make therein were the only things the midshipmen had to look forward to, and even the last of these was longed for the most Usually, however, they had a glorious time in each town, and it was with a sigh that the anchor wae weighed and the ship headed toward sea* The last foreign port touched was usually Funchal, and then only three weeks lay before them before they would reach Annapolis and disembark. At last the cruise would be over and they would start on September leave in a run-down condition. Finally some one high up saw that the whole system was wrong—that they were making automatons instead of officers from midshipmen. A new scheme was devised. Last summer it was tried for the first time and worked so well that they are continuing with it. Now only one class, the youngsters (past plebes), are sent on a cruise of the old style. This year their cruise is exceptionally well planned, taking in Antwerp (Paris}, Cadiz, Seville, Gibraltar and Funchal. There is a possibility of their touching at Kiel after leaving Antwerp. In the meantime the first and second classes, having passed through this stage, are distributed among the various ships of the fleet, where they serve in the capacity of Junior officers. Tbe general range of knowledge thus gained is wide, for they become accustomed to the real way in which things are done. The ships on which they are stationed may at any time be sent abroad, to South America, to Panama or to Narragansett bay for target practice. At the present time, while part of them are in New York, others are in Newport, some are in Mexican ports and some at our southern drilling grounds. Thus, through the three Bummer months the midshipmen are placed in such a position that they acquire real experience as officers. They stand watches, sdrve as aids to the executives, tbe navigator, etc., drill the men, take command of a turret during gun drill and in general learn to aseumsf responsibility. In port their duties are somewhat lightened and they are allowed a certain amount of liberty. On weekdays, of those in New York, each may go ashore every other day. They start at 4:00 p. m. and must report their return to the officer of the deck by 11:00 p. m., unless it is theater night. Two nights of the week are theater nights, and the liberty then continues till midnight To reach the ship by twelve it is necessary that one leave the theater at eleven. In this way the middies may be nerved up awaiting the climax when some one in tbe party nudges the others and whispers, “Time to go,** and the whole thing is spoiled in a few minutes. On Saturday and Sunday the liberty runs from twelve to twelve and every one may take advantage of it. This all sounds wondrously find, but

there is the money to be taken into consideration. The middies are allowed to receive hone from home and are given only $6 upon coming to New York. The first night is glorious, but it is short and is soon only a dream. Then there are days of idling away the hours that they might be spending ashore, days of eating beans, hash and slum gullion.