Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-20

the American troops. The event will take
place at Luna Park and a committee viii
| be appointed to arrange the details. The
sham battle will be held in the daylight
hours and the famous rushes of Uncle
Sans fighters will be shown.
Commander-in-chief Ward was accompa-
MED to the hall from the Willard Hotel by
| detail Of uniformed Spanish War Vet
Grams, comprising guard of honor. He
was received by Department Commander
Mitchell. who delivered the address of well
come and complimented national headquar-
| tiers on the splendid work that has been
| accomplished in organizing new camps and
departments during Capt. Wards admins
tration." On behalf Of the Department of
the District of Columbia he welcomed the
chief to his native city. Capt. Ward having
been born here.
Local Department Complimented.
Replying. the commander -in-chief COM
| plimented the local branch Of the organiza-
ton on its good showing and said the Dis
| trict department is regarded by the organ
| fzation as 1.-The fountain head of influence
| and Inspiration Speaking of his inspec-
| ton tour. Capt. Ward said in Vermont he
found nine camps of United Spanish War
| Veterans, comprising practically every man
who served from Vermont in the war with
Spain. He complimented his Predecessor
| Maj. Chas. r. Miller of Cleveland, Ohio, on
! the work of his administration. and added
When 1 took command l found fine
esprit du corps. the work Of Maj. Miller,
making the recent great growth of the or
ganization possible. 1 have signed a char
ter for new camp every day since jan
uary l. and the payment of per capita tax
shows doubling Of our membership. The
United Spanish War Veterans now COM
prises in its organization % per cent of the
+ soldiers who served in 1898 against Spain"
Commander Ward paid high tribute to the
venerable veterans of the G. A. R.. and
said they had filled a great place in this
country, having taught the nation to find
itself" He said the soldiers of 1898 had
learned patriotism from the Memorial day
services and campfire celebrations Of the
Grand Army Of the Republic.
THE burden on the shoulders of the G..
A. r. are heavy Capt. Ward pointed out.
THE grim old veterans of the sixties are
passing away Who will carry on the work
OF patriotism when they are gone? The
nation has placed upon us the heavy burden
of carrying out and teaching the principles
taught by the G. A. r. When that honor
OF action we Of the Spanish War Veterans
will be members of the only organization In
which membership has been gained by VOL
unteering to serve our country In time OF
war. and to have laid down our lives. If nee
essary. for it's defense and honor. The
bronze cross OF the Spanish War Veterans,
therefore. means much. 1t cannot be bought
| or taken from It's wearer. He earned it by
honorable service in war;"
American Fighting Men.
Commander Ward said the reason the
foreign powers stayed their hands from in
reference In 1898. and the Spaniards so
pr omptly surrendered was because of the
800 600 American fighting men who were
gathered together in the camps in the
| United States and who would have dome as
well had opportunity offered as the men
who charged San Juan Hill with Roosevelt
or fought in Manila bay with Dewey"
The national commander spoke of the
large number of prominent soldiers and
sailors who are Joining the organization Of
Spanish War Veterans and said Miles
Camp of San Francisco has an active men,
bership of $50 men. the total number in
Washington sent only one regiment to the
war with Spain, yet in that state are ten
camps of Spanish War Veterans. Butte.
Mont. with population of $4,000. has
camp with $50 members. the mayor of the
city being it's commander.
In conclusion, Capt. Ward declared that
1.-The men who promptly and periodically
responded in time of war are being recog-
is asserting itself" He urged the member
ship to be no less Jealous good. patriotic
citizens than they were as soldiers and
sailors.
Views Of Col. Urell.
Col. NJ. Emmett Urell. past commander-in-
chief of the Spanish War Veterans, and
who is a prominent member of the G. A. R..
was next presented. He began his address
by predicting that In less than ten years
this country will be engaged in war with
Japan He said that some of the "old fell
lows of 1861 to 1865" are still ready and
able to respond to the call to arms. He
urged the Spanish War Veterans 10 insist
upon Congress to build a large navy COM
mensurate with the size and Importance of
this country and of sufficient size to protect
Its long coast lines and the colonies.
"Boys, you may soon have to face the
little yellow fellows" Col Urell exclaimed
with flush of enthusiasm. I'VE can raise
an army quickly, but not so with a navy.
We ought to do all we can to induce Con-
gress to give us the greatest navy in the
world. With a big navy we cannot only
defy Japan. but the whole world
At the conclusion Col. Urell spoke of the
advancement made in recent years by the
United Spanish War Veterans, and urged
its members to cast their votes regardless
of political affiliations, with the party which
will give the organization the best support
National Judge Advocate General John
Lewis Smith of the United Spanish War
Veterans said he is proud to be member
of the staff of Commander Ward and de-
clared that because of Capt Wards sue
cess he should be reelected to the highest
Office in the organization. To this Capt.
Ward promptly replied:
I'm not a candidate, Comrade Smith"
That's what Roosevelt says, the judge
advocate general responded and the as
sembed veterans laughed.
An incident of the evening was when Mrs.
I