CADET, NAVAL. The lowest grade of officers of the line, or executive branch, in the United States and other navies. In the United States Navy the title was cadet-widshimna n until changed by act of Congress in ls52. hi 1902 an act of Congress was passed and approved restor ing the old title of midshipman. The cadets are under instruction at the Naval Academy, Annapolis, for four years, and then serve two years at sea in regular cruising ships, when they arc commissioned as ensigns. The ages of en trance to the Academy are from IS to 20 years, but efforts are being made to reduce the upper age limit to eighteen. According to the present law, the number of cadets allowed at the Academy is one for each Representative and Delegate in Con gress and appointed by them, and ten at large and one for the District of Columbia, appointed by the President. See NAVAL ACADEMY, UNITED
STATES.
The number of cadets in foreign navies is limited by the number of applicants or the re quirements of the service. The examination of cadets for the British Navy takes place in Lon don and Portsmouth in Starch, July. and Novem ber. and the limits of age are and years. The cadets are trained on board the old line-of-battle ship Britannia. In France the school for naval cadets is on board the stationary training-ship Borda. at Brest. The period of training is two years, and the age of entrance is from 14 to 18 years. ln Germany the naval cadets are instructed at the Naval Academy at Kiel. The age of entrance mnst not exceed 19 years, and the requirements are such that very few boys under 16 are likely to pass the entrance examination.