Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17

too, was captured by q Spanish man.
o-'war and taken to Santiago de Cuba.
This 42-pounder, muzzle- loading
cast-iron, 7-inch-caliber cannon, is an
American species. She blazed at the
Southerners when they assaulted Fort
Sumter In 1861. On capitulation she
was taken to Richmond for an over
hauling. Notice her battle scars. She
got hot at Bull Run and Gettysburg.
The Unions recaptured her when Lee
surrendered, and since that she rusted
| in an Army barracks and now COM
mands the northwest basement entrance
to this building"
At the east area south of the east
main entrance Is Canet breech-load-
ing, steel-rified. 4.75-inch caliber gun.
ut was captured by Dewey at Manila
in 1898.
when the Spaniards saw Dewey
would end their regime, they scuttled
! their guns. They threw the breech
Yankee gobs swamped the enemy ship,
Manila, they carried this piece below
decks and replaced 1t with a cannon
| from their own stores. You see. it's not
such an old piece. The Battle OF
Manila Bay is all she can boast. Lying
here she's in mighty dignified company.
Here's FL Toro and there's Jus Divinum,
| the divine law, both griZzled veterans,
but not drawing pensions"
At the Soldiers Home more historic
| cannon. Civil War veterans are COM
| pairing a German Big Bertha that
shoots IS miles. with another used
| during the Spanish American War.
THE cannon make veterans feel az
home" said our historian. IN tneif
| day, men used to pull cannon, but
| modern cannon are motorized. 1t
would take an army to drag this sky
| thrower, for instance. She shelled
| Paris, ST. Mihiel and Chateau Thierry,
| and took an active part at Belleau
| Woods, too. A company OF Americans
| found her in concealment after the
| German evacuation. They hitched her
to tank and dragged her back OF
| the lines.
IAN these small guns have histories
Of their own. They threw shells into
Fort Vicksburg and rolled in the van
guard of Gen. Thomas, the Rock OF
Chickamauga. This one came with
Stonewall Jacksons cavalry raiders,
while this lame field piece marched
with Sherman's army to the sea"
THEN to the War College. on the
travelled road and facing the Wash
ington Channel, behind the officers
palatial homes, stands q row OF bat
| tered, war-worn cannon, that stretch
rusted Threats toward the open water
at all angles.
! Look at them, these hot-hearted
devils" he said. mo man knows
whence they came or how. They were
poilus in many battles, fought valiantly
and defiantly. Scared and scratched,
weary from the fight. they painted
pungent smoke, breathed heavily. How
they sighed for rest. Their wounds are
forgotten, gunners unknown. Their
silence Is sealed.
Dumb, dumb beasts" he sighed in
eulogy. where are your voices? Seep
Having spoken. they are silent and
wordless. Deeds live after them. These
cast-off war horses will hold their noses
up and scent the fresh channel breeze
cannon are made of, steel and steel,
imperishable, but no unrustable. All the
vivid colors, the green's, zigzag yellows
and shrill bronzes, all the camouflage,
have faded from their faces. When
the lead paint rots of, they are ex-
posed to the skin. Wind and rain and
sleet beat against their faces. Soon
they will be disarmed and unprotected.
If they are not taken to museum or
dressed in protective lead paint, then
they shall perish as other cannon have
persisted"
Hard by the War College Is the
United States National Museum. Therein
are many more field pieces.
THE Government owns so many OF
these war relics" our interpreter went
on, that the bulk OF them must stand
outside with the changing weather.
People pass and wonder how so
many guns are here-howitzers, NOR
tars, anti-aircraft pieces, 75s and g.
FOUNDERS. Well. after battle the res
cue squad would conduct Q forage on
the field and draw together everything
iof value. The cannon we're rolled into