Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-06
FAVOR MUSEUM OF WAR
SPANISH WAR VETERANS TO AP-
PEAL TO CONGRESS.
Committee Appointed to Bring Project
to Attention of Legislators
Other Measures in View.

At the recent general assembly of the Ma
| tional Army and Navy, Spanish War Vet
Grams, held at Detroit. resolution was
unanimously adopted for the appointment
of committee on leglsla ton, to look after
the interests Of the organization in matters
coming before Congress. One of the duties
imposed upon the committee is stated in
| resolution. which was unanimously adopted.
requiring the members ito urge Congress
to pass law and make a sufficient appro-
priation for the establishment at Wash
ington, D. c., of a museum of war a
| monument to the American soldiers of all
wars, from the revolution to the war with
Spain"
Col. M. Emmett Urell, comma nder-in- chief
Of the Spanish War Veterans, has ap-
pointed the committee on legislation. Its
members are: Capt ]. Walter Mitchell
chairman; Capt. Lee NJ. Lipscomb, past
commander of the Corps of the District Of
Columbia, and Capt. Daniel V. Chisholm
Committee headquarters have been opened
at 212 Sd street northeast.
The National Army and Navy, Spanish
War Veterans. has grown to a membership
Of about $4,000, and when the proposed
amalgamation with the Spanish-American
War Veterans occurs this month the num-
Der will be largely increased. Its interests
before Congress will therefore be many and
varied.
Two other matters which will be speedily
brought to the attention of Congress are
provision for a temporary home in tlSs city
for stranded Spanish war veterans, and a
request for the passage of bill for the
protection Of the badge and button worn
by the veterans.
Will Ask for Hearing.
The committee will soon ask for hear
ing before the House committee on public
buildings and grounds on the war museum
proposition. Data Is being prepared to
show that a site for the proposed museum
is available without cost to the government
in the public park and on a line with the
Medical Museum, National Museum and
Smithsonian Institute. 1t will also show
that there is in the National Museum. on
exhibition, sufficient war relics to form
a respectable nucleus for the proposed mu-
scum of war. The civil war relics alone
form most interesting study Of the deadly
strife in the sixties. Those Of the revolu
ton illustrate how our forefathers fought
for freedom. The mementos Of the war
with Spain and the Instruction In the
Philippines show the more modern means
Of warfare. Even the siege of Pekin is
represented in a most interesting and In
structive manner. The whole, the commit
tee will claim, will form an object lesson
for the younger soldiers who have never
seen active service and become source of
instruction to the youth of the country
who will fight our wars of the future.
In reference to the establishment of a
temporary home in this city for soldiers of
the war with Spain who may find them
selves here without friends or means, the
committee will perhaps ask Congress to ar
range for their care in the temporary home
for civil war veterans, on Missouri avenue.
This, the committee will claim, can be &C
the appropriation Of $1,000 now made an
nually for the Missouri avenue institution.
Congress will be requested to pass a
measure for the protection of all insignia
oJor INV oil
will be cited that in certain secondhand es-
Establishments in this city badges of honor,
medals and buttons worn by former SOL
diers have been publicly exposed for sale,
to the humiliation Of all men who wore
their country's uniform and served with
honor under the flag. 1t will be further
asked that severe penalties be provided
against those who buy and sell and those
who wear such insignia unless they are
bona fide soldiers or former soldiers.
The committee will hold a meeting in a
few days to decide upon a formal plan for
approaching Congress on the matters men
toned and others that may be referred to
IL by Chief Urel.
The Museum of War.
Capt Mitchell chairman Of the commit
tee has been busy collecting data to be pre-
scented to Congress favorable to the estab-
lishment here Of the proposed Museum of
War. He has found that there are many
civil war relics in the War Department, in
GLIDING hundreds of captured battle flags.
The ordnance bureau alone could furnish a
most instructive and interesting exhibit. AS
the navy is, of course, included the Navy
Department could supply another exhibit,
including many relics on exhibition In the
obscure but nevertheless interesting little
museum in the Washington navy yard
There are numerous cannon captured dur
ing the revolution in the war with Mexico
in the civil war; the war with Spain. in the
Philippines and China. Some Of these are
housed, others are in the open exposed to
the elements. Those captured from the
Fillpinos are interesting and unique in the
annals Of ordnance and illustrate the adage
that necessity Is the mother of inven-
ton" They were named by our troops
wooden cannon" These queer guns have
an outer covering Of wood banded by iron
rings, the bores being sections Of one-inch
galvanized iron gas pipe strengthened by a
succession Of iron rings These odd
weapons were in actual use against the
American troops in the earlier stages Of the
insurrection in the Philippines
The naval relics at the National Museum
include many grim objects from the sea
off Santiago which tell the story Of the
destruction of Cervera's fleet, and others
from Manila bay, which serve to illustrate
Dewey's great victory there.
Dummies Another Feature.