Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-23
HISTORIC WARSH|PS
Admiral Dewey Starts Move
ment to Preserve Them.
UNCLE SANS DEFENDERS
That Have Won Glorious Victories
for the Nation.
BORNE BRUNT OF BATTLE
Hartford, Constitution, Constellation,
Richmond and Saratoga Once
Were Mighty Vessels.
Written for The Star.

Written for The Star.
Admiral Dewey has just made a plea for
the historic battleships Of Uncle Sans
navy. In the opinion Of the foremost living
sea fighter, it is the duty of the government
to take the greatest possible care OF every
one of the famous ships. wooden or Steel
that has borne the brunt of battle in en-
PLACEMENTS that lent luster to the nations
great naval history.
1t was in behalf Of the Hartford, Farra-
CUTS flagship in that ever-to-be-forgotten
Mississippi campaign, that Dewey's voice
was raised. New York committee be-
sought the Secretary of the Navy to have
the grand old ship assigned to its city
nautical school, to supplant the st. Mary.
In behalf of this plant it was argued that
the Hartford would be a permanent spur
To the patriotism of the boyhood Of the me-
tropolis.
Admiral Dewey protested warmly just as
soon as he learned Of the plan. AS an
ardent admirer of Farragut naval master
of the civil war, and one who was with him
throughout the ascent of the Mississippi.
Dewey argued that the proper place Tor the
old battleship was at the Naval Academy,
Annapolis, the home of the greatest Ameri-
can naval traditions. At such a place 1t
can be cared for. and will equally have
the power of stirring patriotic thoughts.
with the additional advantage that those
to whose sentiments it will appeal are the
men who must command the battleSnlpS OF
Uncle Sans future.
The Hartford is only one Of a number of
famous ships that have done valiant duty
for Uncle Sam, but which now are either
in danger of destruction or have been de-
graded to some mental service considered
not fitting to the memory of their heroic
pasts
Disposition of Noted Vessels.
Thus the best has been done for the
Richmond is to roof it over like Noah's
Ark. and use it for a receiving ship at
League Island, Philadelphia. The Constel-
lation the Oldest American warship af1oat.
is a training ship at Newport, Rhode Is
land. The New Hampshire and Saratoga
are both training ships and the kearsarge,
Minnesota, Pensacola and half dozen
others are variously distributed through
Uncle Sans domain, some Of them mere
unidentified hulks whose histories and
names have almost been forgotten.
When, eighteen years ago, the United
States established the system of nauti-
cal training schools, with branches at prom
inent seaports, it was felt that Uncle Sam
had found a way to provide use for his
antiuuated ships that sentiment saved
from destruction, but which the advance
Of naval constructor made useless. Some
of these old hulks, most of them sailing
craft, some of them entirely without steam
power, were assigned to service at the
nautical schools. and young lads aspiring to
sea careers made tours tie. all parts of the
world and learned the practical side of
sailors life.
1t was then the impression that more
actual knowledge of seamanship can be
gained on a sailing vessel than on a steam
err and this was felt abundant justification
for giving the lads this kind of a training.
But now different belief is held by men
like Admiral Dewey and other men of the