Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-09
MUSEUM OF WAR
IT'S PROPOSED EsTApL1sHMrNr
IN THIS cry.
Provisions Of a Bill Ito BE introduced
by Representative Hughes-Aims
Of the Projectors.

The proposition to establish In this city q
national museum Of war has taken definite
shape. and Representative VIM Hughes Of
New Jersey will Introduce bill in the
House for that purpose. The bill authorizes
and directs the Secretary OF War to cause
to be erected in the Smithsonian Institution
Park a suitable and commodious building
for q museum of war, at a cost not to ex-
coed $1500O0.
The first steps for the establishment OF
such a museum were taken by the National
Army and Navy Spanish War Veterans at
the annual assembly at Detroit, Mich. last
year. The project was approved by Col M
Emmett Urell, then commander-in-chief,a ana
a resolution introduced by Delegate Her
bert w. Meyers of this city. urging sucn es-
adjustment was unanimously adopteo:
Since that time many members or the
Grand Army of the Republic and other
patriotic organizations, and the National
Guard of the several states, as well as
army officers, have sent strong indorse-
ments Of the proposition to Capt. ]. Waiter
Mitchell, national historian of the Spanish
War Veterans, who Is preparing such In
dorsements for presentation to Congress.
Memorial of Soldierly Valor.
1t was intended by the projectors that the
proposed museum should be erected as a
memorial to the valor and endurance of all
American soldiers, from the revolution to
the war with Spain, and that it would be
valuable adjunct to the Army War College
here and a helpful object lesson in warfare
ancient and modern. to the students OF the
art Of war. It is contended that there WILL
be but little expense to the government III
stocking the museum with rellcs OF Wal
and implements Of warfare, as there Is now
a great quantity OF such+ materlal IN Ine
partments, and in the war museum at the
Washington navy yard, besides the number
of exhibits which will be loaned to the IN
stitution by individuals and states;
Several years ago the ordnance bureau Oh
the War Department maintained war
museum in the Winder building on l!tn
street, in which was displayed many IN
tere sting exhibits and elics OF war These
included a large number of battle flags,
Union and confederate, some of them
stained with the blood of their bearers,
indicating the sangurary struggles TOT
them before they were finally captured.
An interesting relic was an oak tree trunk,
which had been literally cut down by leaden
n.usket balls in the bloody angle at
Spottsylvania in several desperate charges
and counter charges by the Union and con-
federate troops
Exhibition of War Implements.
The war with Spain and the insurrection
in the Philippines as well as the recent
campaign in China, have been productive of
a great many crude and modem implements
of war and relics of numerous kinds which
1.-THE museum projectors claim will make
valuable and interesting, exhibits in the
proposed collection. TiaAE Z
One of the exhibits proposed by certain
national guard officers is designated as 1.-The
army uniforms of tie world. 1t Is intend
ed that it shall consist Of the uniforms
worn by the soldiers Of all nations to be
exhibited on dummy figures Added to
this proposed exhibit wifi be, the uniforms
of the American soldiers, from the Concord
Minute Men and riaemen to the latest
olive-drab service uniform now worn by
Uncle Sans fighting men in the tropics
The American History Club of this city,
and the Association of Historical Research
of Chicago, have both fecenty strongly in
dorsed the movement for. the establishment
of a museum of war in this, city.
Representative William Hughes. who viii
introduce the BILL, is an active member OF
Brereton Command, Spanish War TVeter-
ans. of Paterson. y. J. In: the war with
Srain he served as a, member of the I'd
New Jersey Volunteers 40