Omaha daily bee., 1912-03-24
Tramp of Soldiers and Boom of Guns
Features of Ceremony.
EUL0GY BY PRESIDENT TAFT
Executive Pays Tribute to First
Heroes of the War.
MANY DIGNITARIES ATTEND
Chaplain Bsyard aud Father Child
wick Have Charge of Ceremonies
at the Cemetery-yoIley
Fired by Marines.

WASHINGTON. March with all
the pomp and solemnity that mighty
nation can pay its heroes Of war. the last
of the dead Of the Maine were laid away
today in Arlington cemetery.
= Side by side with the bodies of those
brought back from Havana harbor after
the war with Spain, they were consigned
10 the earth OF the Old Dominion. while
a nation paid its last measure OF honor
TO the unidentified" OF that great
catastrophe that brought on a war,
changed the map of the world and ex-
tended the empire of the United States
into the corners Of the earth.
Seldom in the history Of this country
has there been planned higher tribute
to the memory of any man or men than
that for the sixty-four dead of the Maine
All offices Closed.
Government business In Washington
practically was suspended by executive
order. President Taft. most Of the mem
bers of his cabinet. the highest officers
of the army, the navy and the marine
corps, officials Of the departments and
the representatives Of many foreign
powers participated In the exercises
Over the government buildings flags hung
at half staff while congress adjourned
for the day. The booming OF minute
guns and the tramp of soldiers added a
touch Of military pomp and circumstances.
Elaborate and careful preparations had
been made for the Nceremopies of the
burial. Beginning with he removal OF
the dead from the United States ship
birmingham. which brought them up
from Havana, and ending with the FIR
Ing OF three volIeys Of musketry over
the new-made graves across the Potomac.
the exercises were designed to show all
honor and respect TO the martyrs Of the
doomed battleship. The escort for the
slow march through the streets Of the
capital from the Birmingham to the State.
War and Navy buildings was picked from
the Birmingham and other vessels now
in Washington.
Address of President.
The speakers, who faced the crowd In
the plaza behind the Navy building. were
only three President Taft and Father
Chadwick. chaplain OF the> Maine when
the explosion Of February Is. lSss, sent
Il to the bottom, and Chaplain Bsyard,
u. S. N.
President Taft in his eulogy said:
We meet to pay appropriate honor to
the memory of the first Of the country's
sons who gave up their lives in our war
do hxy IN
charge responsibility TO the Spanish gov
ernment for the explosion OF the Maine,
but that the tragedy was part Of the
causes which led up to the Spanish war
no one familier with the circumstances
can now doubt.
That war every American can feel
proud of, because 1t was fought without
q single selfish instinct and was prompted
by the most altruistic motives. Beginning
with a self-denying ordinance with respect
10 Cuba, we were forced into the atti-
tuds OF taking over the Philippines and
our course in those islands has reflected
the highest credit on our purposes and
civilization
These, our honored dead, were hurled
into eternity without the inspiration Of
anticipated battle or hoped-for victory.
But they were on duty when they went
down; they wore the uniforms Of their
beloved country: and they are to be
classed well to the fore in that long list
of naval heroes whose steadfastness and
courage have given the American navy
the high position II occupies in history
among the navies of the world.
1T is well that we should halt the
wheels Of government and stay the hum
OF industry to take time to note by ap-
propriate ceremony the debt we owe TO
those who gave up their lives for the
nation. We raised the ship from the mud
bottom Of Havana harbor and gave its
remains honorable burial in the blue
waves Of the ocean. We now eonsign 10
the sacred soil Of Arlington. the recov-
cred bones Of those who gave the Maine
fits personality and made IL a living wea-
pom for the protection OF national honor
and vital interests. We have given to
those ceremonies all possible soIemnity
that are included in the honors Of war,
and we shall fail II they do not express
in unmistakahIe tone and sign the deep
and lasting gratitude Of a nation to its
martyred defenders"
Music by Marine Band.
The marine band. the show band Of
Washington. was chosen to give the SOL
emn music for the dead. and an army
battery stationed near the Washington
f7onuuent was selected fo fire the txen-
ty-one-gun salute as the ceremonies at
the Navy building ended and the quiet
march to Arlington was begun.
Conspicuous among the officials for
whom reservations had been made Just
behind President Taft on the steps of |
the big granite building were Rear Ad- !
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