The Forrest City times., 1912-05-31
NAVY ST|RS PEOPLE
Always Arouses More Enthusi-
 asm Than Does the Army.
ITS TROPHIES AT CAPITAL
Lcns Ton With 3 Remarkable and Varied History Is Exhibited a. the Navy Yard-Willow
 Frcr Sz5oteop's Crave
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

eu otie2 8 a curious fact that the people ot the United States who in 3 large sense are aa absolutely non military body are yet ia the main en- fHusiastie over the navy. Congress men saE that g proposition to increase the number ot hattleships is sure Of great sEfpcrt from tAe country. while proposition 10 increase the army would be n many places fl not in most places vigorously opposed. Visitors 70 Washington show I greater interest .1 naval affairs than they do ia army affairs. When they SO 70 the state. var ard navy building they flock 10 t4e places where models os battle th.9s gre shown and where naval trophies are displayed and pay much less attention 10 the exhib.; made by ,he army
 The 1avy yard in Washington ts an object of interest 70 the thousands who come b the capital city in May lAere are a good many trophies ot battles in the EeeF!Eg ot the navy yard Ia tae United States Military Academy CT he Hudson river there ]. q place sat aside and known as Trophy Fo.at. There are exhibited many g,Ins captured ty the land forces ia The dit, >ze1t vars in which tals country has ben engaged Trophy Point $ one e; :ke een.ers ot interest at West Font and 8tat is true there is true c: the 1aYy $a-6 iz Washington Peo- z-e apparently Gke 10 .ook at things which show the pFowess either on sz5 O sea e the sailors and soldiers ! ef tsete country and yat truth eomFels agasn he s-a-ezs7, ttat taa naval trophies s'traes greater attention
 cgrio@s History ef Long Tom.
 tn the navy yaF# there is a cast. iron guE which was made century ] and ! quarter SEQ ' belongs 70 he ] class called Long Toms This gun once had 2 place on he French ship l Aochet which was vesse5 ot a squad ron sent by France .n the year 17es i with troops on board for the parposa Of invading Ireland and helping the ] Irish people 10 win their independence from Great Britain The British cap tared the warship and also the gun ] which ts now a. the navy yard tn ] Washington
 Once or a time the United States ] eo~g1t some guns from England and this particular Long Tom which had l done service on 9 French vessel and a.terward oa . English vessel. passed into the possession of this country. T. was mounted On board an American man-of-war and in one of the engage. meIts which our ships had with : French ships al the close of the eight. eeEth century the Long Tom was used against ship Of the country which once owned it h this fight a French shot struck the gun and dented f.. bur did not put II entirely out Of con- mission
 The United States government con. demned .he Long Tom although it was still seryiceable and sold f to the Island ot Haiti. which then was en- gagged in war on it's own account against the French nation l. was used by the Haytians and so at least twice in it's existence the gun was turned against it's first owners.
 Usea h War e 1872.
 h some way today unknown. this gun was brought back 70 America and r was used on board an American asIg T-e Armstrong which had azAt with three British ships in the war of lsle So | Was tha. the Long Tom , was used in service against tts second owner. Great Britain T. is now in the nF a i.ies and [ Is presumed that no other nation wil capture t or buy II 10 be used one day against it's present own CT, Uncle sam
 T. is impossible to tel hew many willow trees there are in the United States which are said 10 be grown from sips et the tree planted q, he head Of the first grave of Napoleon on the Island ot St- Helena Ore runs across thesn in al parts ot the country and some ot them nay be real sIias O. the famous trees. but the general ba- lief is that most Of them are counter. feits"
 There is Q willow tree in the Wash. ington navy yard however which II is known is an offspring Of the Napoleon willow. Commodore Balnbridge. who l commanded the old Constitution and who was . famous naval officer in his day. obtained a slip of the tree brought it 10 America and planted t with h.s own hands in the navy yard where | has tsriYed and is today hale and hearty in it's willowy old age
 Saving Historic Lanorlrks.
 4 movement which has obtained great impetus to make fte esn ] ital more beautiful Is no faster on is way than the movement 70 pre. serve landmarks CT historic interest Congress Is taking a deep interest n the matter and has been spurred 10 t by the influence Of many Of the pa- Tiede organizations Of the country. organizations ot all kinds from the Grand Army Of the Republic 10 the I Dr-shez-s ~ E1