Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-04
FOREIGN TARS FETED
Etruria's Officers Guests of
Spanish War Veterans.
INFORMAL LUNCH SERVED
Toasts Drunk to Italian King and
American President.
WELCOMED BY MIR. DOLPH
Evening Passed in Enjoyment OF
Music and Interchange Of
Stories and tests.
INFORMAL LUNCH SERVED
WELCOMED BY MIR. DOLPH

The colors of the has of Italy were
blended with the red. white and blue
of Old Glory last night at the heal
quarters of the United Spanish war
Veterans Sth and X streets.
The occasion was a sort of hands
across the-sea reception rendered the
officers of the Italian cruiser Etruria
by the members of Gen. Nelson \.
Miles Camp. No. ]. United Spanish var
Veterans. and tho officers of the De-
partment of the District of Columbie.
The Italian naval officers who were tue
guests OF the American soldiers ana
sailors of 1898 represented the COM
mander of the Etruria and the crew.
The officers of the Etruria who were
feted by the Spanish War Veterans
were Lieuts. Alfonso Gastaldi and An
tonic Maria ZayagH, Capt. surgeon
Stefano Sierra and Capt. and Paymaster
Cito Contardo. With them was Tony
Guiffre Of this city, who acted as IN
terpreter. The reception committee OF
Miles Camp and the District DEPART
ment, consisting Of Department Com
mander Richard l.. Lamb Past depart
ment Comma nders Gustav r. RausSh
and Lee NJ. Iipscomb. Charles A. SID
man and Jere Costello. proceeded TO
the river front in a tally-ho coach ana
conveyed the officers to headquarters
where a large number Of Spanish war
veterans had assembled. FIutterine
from either side of the coach were the
Italian flag of green and red ana the
stars. and Stripes of the United states.
4 tour of the principal DOWNTOWN
streets was made by the enthusiastic
tally-ho party before reaching Sth ana
Is streets.
Welcomed by Commander Dolph. !.
Upon entering the hall Commander
Isaac ". Dolph of Miles Camp greeted
the Italian officers. while hundreds OF
veterans present stood at attention.
Commander Dolph said the American
soldiers and sailors who had fought to
a quick and successful finish the war
with Spain desired through their com
rades present to extend their hands
across the sea, as it were, and give the
representatives of the navy Of Italy q
hearty soldier and sailor greeting. lie
said it was the hope and belief or the
fighting men of the United States that
the friendly relations now existing De.
tween the United states and Italy will
ALWAYS continue and grow stronger as
the years roll by. Then. using a tfite
and homely American expression. he
babe the visitors make themselves ut
home.
Among the Spanish War Veterans who
received the italian officers were De-
partment Commander Richard l.. Lamp
Past Department Commanders Lee NJ:
Historian J. Walter Mitchell. Commander
Isaac ~ Dolph OF Miles Camp, Jere A.
Costello. chairman of the entertainment
committee of Miles Camp; Charlie: \.
Leahy of Miles Camp. Joseph Ruppei.
Commander Robert H. Wood OF Petit
Camp. James T. Simpson, quartermaster
of Petit Camp; MAYER B. Dodek, Chris
law
r. e. Wallace. Lyman Layton. 8: Schii-
Ter, NJ Kleaber, NJ. D. Mettee, Nathan
Levy. Dennis Quill and Harry Landon.
After Commander Dolph's speech OF
welcome the veterans greeted the ltanan
officers with hearty handshakes. The
silk Italian and American flags that had
decorated the tally-ho coach were then
presented to Mr.. Guiffre. the interpreter.
by Commander Dolph. as souvenirs OF the
historic occasion when, for the. first
time in the history of this country, Amer
lean soldiers and sailors Of foreign
war had as guests officers Of a foreign
nation.
Music, Jests and Stories.
The party then proceeded to Geyers
summer garden. where. amid music ana
flowers. Jest and laughter. an informal
luncheon was served. Capt. Lee NJ
Lipscomb proposed toast to His
Majesty. Victor Emmanuel, King Of
Italy to which Lieut.. Alfonso Gastaldi
of the Etruria responded, proposing
toast 10 the President of the United
States. Both toasts We're drunk amid
applause.
During the festivities stories and jests
passed between the visitors and hosts,
Jere Costello Of Miles Camp. who was
acting commissary general for the oc-
casion. relating incidents OF the Santiago
campaign.
Lieut. Gastaldi said. in speaking Of the
outbreak of war with Spain. he recalled
the fact that he was in Havana the day
after the blowing up of the Maine, and
was at that time midshipman. He ex-
pressed his surprise at the number OF
Spanish war veterans who had joined the
organization, which was much larger
than he had supposed.
The feast and festivities over, the rep
resentatives of the Italian navy We're es-
corted back to the Etruria on the tally
no by Commander Dolph and Past Com
mander Daniel j. Leahy Of Miles Camp.
both Of whom served in the American
navy IN the war with Spain.