Evening star., 1918-02-16
TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY
Of MEN Of THE MAINE
Representative Van Dykes Address
on Twentieth Anniversary Of
Tragedy in Havana Harbor.

Impressive tribute was paid to the
memory of the men who went to their
death with the destruction Of the bat
tleship Maine, at the twentieth ami
versary exercises held yesterday after
noon under the auspices of the Depart
ment of the District of Columbia,
United Spanish War Veterans. The ex-
ercises were held in the riding hall at
Fort Myer.
Representative Carl c. Van Dyke Of
Minnesota, national patriotic instruc-
tor. U. S. W. ". was master of cere-
monies and the first speaker.
Mr.. Van Dykes Tribute.
Mr.. Van Dyke said. in part:
II am more honored in being here as
a comrade of the men who lost their
lives in Havana harbor twenty years
ago to pay tribute in that capacity,
than in any other. Having the good
fortune to have been accepted as a vol
unteer for that war under President
McKinley's call, the ties made in the
company of men serving in the field
and in the camp cannot be equaled nor
Offering ones life for his country's flag,
and the man who lost his life in fever
camps or through catastrophe, such as
the one that occurred to the battleship
Maine, has contributed his life just as
surely and just as heroically as the
man who is shot down charging the
enemy-aye, even more so, for the man
who dies on the battlefield faces the
fight with full knowledge of the glory
that is his, while the soldier or sailor
who dies in fever camps or while peace
fully in sleep or at the routine of his
duty must feel. II he realizes the pass
ing away at all. that he has been rob-
bed Of the glory of fighting in the open
with the Stars and Stripes floating
above him. knowing that he has made
himself felt for the defense of his
country.
ITO these men of the battleship
Maine who lost their lives for their
country 1 pay the humble tribute of a
comrade along with the tribute of the
nation"
Expresses Cuba's Friendship.
Dr. Joaquin r. Torralbas, charge
d'affaires of the Cuban legation. offered
the testimony and sincere friendship
OF the country he represented. He said,
in part:
Each day. each year that passes
drawing us far from the sad historic
moment in which the brave men of the
Maine succumbed in the tranquil wa
terS OF havana Day, Is new era WnlCh
indicates to the world the progress of
i democracy. the triumph of liberty. be-
cause it is day. year more that
supports the personality of the young
republic of Cuba, born in the crash of
singular and constant battle against
powerful adversary. helped by noble
and generous country, lover of liberty
and jealous of glory, the great nation
of the immortal George Washington.
Twenty years have elapsed since
! these brave men perished, and from
that time in every Cuban heart is burn
ing the vivid fire of gratitude: a coun-
try that has been oppressed can never
forget those who bravely fought and
gloriously died for liberty.
Cuba is not guest in this sad an
niversary: she is a fellow sufferer who
comes to nourish with her tears the
,, worthy garden of your noble senti-
mentS."
Other Program Features.
Representative William w. Venable
| of Mississippi spoke of the example set
! by the men who lost their lives on the
| Maine as an inspiration to the men
| fighting for the country today.
Music by the United States Marine