NAVAL EDUCATION. Thorough edu cative and systematic study constitute the base rock foundation in the grasping of the prin ciples of the art of war, naval or military. No navy nor army can hold its own that fails to keep abreast of sciences that relate themselves to naval or military needs. The educational policy of the most modern navies is based on the fact that the seamanship of the future is dependent on the increasing utilization of the data of science, whether in mechanics, chem istry, physics, electricity, marine engineering or naval construction. Constant experimentation and adaptation, discovery and invention, readi ness to abandon the outworn and willingness to try the untried, must go hand in hand with a growing navy, especially with a navy that is itself a vast educational and training school. The new demands, however, do not imply multiplication of studies so much as greater thoroughness in fundamentals. Science is one, though its branches are numerous and rami fying.
United Recent acts of Congress and laws increasing the number of midshipmen have largely increased the attendance at the Naval Academy and other naval institutions. The number of midshipmen coming from the enlisted personnel is increasing, and it is to be hoped that the day will soon come when most, if not all, appointments to the Naval Academy will come from the ranks. When a prereq uisite to appointment as midshipmen at the Naval Academy is actual practical sea service in the enlisted ranks, the navy will more and more attract the youths who love the sea and have the taste and the qualifications for the naval service. The Naval Academy was estab lished by George Bancroft in President's Polk's administration. His state papers were models, and the Secretary of the Navy is remembered as scholar and writer as well as a secretary with a vision. Bancroft felt the need, as did John Paul Jones and Matthew Fontaimi. Maury and other naval leaders, of an institution to educate young men for the navy, but it re n3ained for Bancroft to translate their dream into the Na Academy. The efficiency of the
navy of to-.1,tv is largeh, if not chiefly, due to the charact of the in action and the high standards tnat prevail at the Naval Academy.
The United States Naval War College was formally established at Coaster's Harbor Island in Newport Harbor, Rhode Island, in 1884. Recently an applicatory system of study, similar to that in use at the Army War College and at the service schools, was introduced at this col lege and endeavors are now being made to cul tivate in the minds of the officers of the navy the habit of systematic reasoning in approach ing tactical or strategical problems, such as is given by an °estimate of the situation." An effort is also being made to develop a form of "campaign orders" modifying the field order form to suit all needs and varying conditions. Co-operation in time of war is greatly aided if each service has some personal acquaintance with the other. This acquaintance can be best brought about by the exchange of visits and hospitalitie among officers afloat and ashore, and by the k xchanze of officers in attendance at the service schools and war colleges. The last is deemed of the greatest importance, as thereby selected officers who in time of war may exercise high command or staff duty arc thus brought in touch, in a professional way, with the sister service. They find out what may be most probably expected from the other service in time they Icarn s,muthii of the methods and professional opinions of the officers of the other service; and if at the war colleges, they assist in the preparation of the war plans. This interchanging of officers is most fruitful of good results. Army offe ers are detailed to attend the summer conferences at the Naval War College and navy and marine officers are designated to attend the Army War College and marine officers attend the army service schools at Fort Leavenworth. Along the same line is the detailing of officers of the Coast Artillery corps to attend fleet target practices.