Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-03
Memorial to Sailors of Revolution.

M em0Tl0l 10 6d14O1S W ASON0>
A memorial to the sailors of the revo-
;utionary war is to be erected at the An
napolis Naval Academy by the General
Society, Daughters OF the Revolution
rhe movement was initiated at recent
meeting of the board of managers Of the
society at Boston, at which Mrs Adeline
f. Fitz Of Wakefield, Mass. president
general. made this interesting recon-
nendation:
Inasmuch as we have always COM
,nemorated the deeds Of the soldier, may
not recommend that we take az our
next work a memorial to the DEEDS OF
he sailor of the revolution? l would
ike to see placed at Annapolis memo
.ial equally as imposing as the one at
valley Forge or Cambridge to the men
who founded our navy. the sailors OF
the revolution"
subsequently Mrs. Fitz had some cor
respondence with Beekman Winthrop.
acting secretary OF the navy. VINO maze
this statement:
mo record Is found that any patriotic
societies Of this country have erected
monuments to our sailors Of the revolu-
tionary period. It Is highly desirable that
the record of the war OF the American
revolution should be preserved and suit
ably commemorated."
Mrs. Fitz received a later communica-
ton from the Navy Department, In which
it was stated that the department will
provide a suitable place for the erection
Of memorial on the grounds of the Ma
val Academy after the design OF said me-
mortal las been approved by the Secre-
tary of the Navy
In accordance with the resolution of the
board Of managers the matter will be pre-
scented to the different state organizations
for concerted action. In order to offer a
memorial artistic in design and worthy
of the object a sum of at least $1,000
must be raised.
Leniency to Older Odlcers.
Gen. Thomas. commanding the Depart
nent Of Colorado. believes that the older
officers of the army should not be COM
PEELED to undergo the ninety-nile riding
test against their wills. In a recent re-
port to the War Department he said that
ali the officers In the Department OF
Colorado took the test cheerfuliy and
successfully. "Field officers" he said.
.'unaccustomed to riding. especially heads
of staff departments closely confined to
office work. do not have sufficient time,
or rather do not take time, to properly
as ordered, and therefore are somewhat
handicapped when brought alongside In
tie riding tests of those officers OF the
mounted branch and mounted officers OF
foot troops who practically live out or
doors and in the saddle for hours each
day They have however. one excellent
trait-confidence in their makeup to stand
the physical strain. In my opinion 1t Is
not a particularly severe test for any
officer in good health. no matter what his
age u.s. However. l think that an officer
of sixty-two years of age should be ex-
cused from such test If he SO desires or
manifests an unwillingness to subject
himself to the ordeal. Therefore IT is
recommended that the tests be contin-
ned as heretofore ordered without change
or modification, with the exception
stated
Passing of the Ammen Ram.
The ram Katahdin. from which SO much
was expected as an engine or var, is
about to come to an isnominious end. In
stead Of creeping up to monster battle
Sims and sending them to the bottom OF
the sea. which work she was designed
70 nerform. she will herself become the
object Of attack. The katahdin's doom
WAS sealed last week. when the Secretary
of the Navy ordered that she be towed
from the navy yard at Philadelphia to
Hampton roads, Virginia. as soon as pos
sible. and thence TO Washington to be
prepared for the sacrifice. While here all
machinery and useful material will be re-
moved, and then the hull Will be towed
10 the proving SgouuOS az 1iSooS
Md, to be used as a target for Uncle
Sans big battleships.
The Katahdin is a relic Of the old days
when the ram was seriously considered In
naval warfare. The vessel did not fulfill
the hopes Of her designers. and therefore
never has been put to practical use. The
Katahdin was designed to be one of the
most formidable vessels In the navy. She
was made practically shellproof and built
with pointed hull to allow her to strike
and sink her enemies.
Her only chance for action came in the
Spanish-Americen war. when she was q
comparatively new ship. The ram was
found to be unseaworthy, however, and al
the close of the war was sent to the
Philadelphia navy yard. where she has
been ever since. The old ironciad will be
fitted up with various compartments
filled with cork and saxdust. All the adj.
ditionai buoyancy possible will be given
the katahdin in order that she may carry
O new modern plate of armor on each side
amidShips. This armor, which will be
twelve inches In thickness. will be the
large FOR the big guns, which will he
tested at the Indian Head proving