Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-07
CONGRESS WILL TRY.
TO SAVE OLYMPIA
Members Forecast Effort to
Bring Ship to Washington
for Memorial.

Aroused by the recommendation of a
Navy beard to sell the famous old bat
tleship Olympia for junk unless some
provision is made for its preservation.
members of Congress forecast today that
when Congress reassembled a deter
mined effort would be made to pass the
bill introduced in 1928 authorizing
bringing the ship here for a permanent
memorial in slip to be built off Hams
Point or some other fitting place. The
bill was referred to the House naval af-
fairs committee.
The Olympia, Dewey's flagship in the
battle of Manila Bay, which eight years
ago brought to Arlington the body of
the Unknown Soldier, is at the Philadel.,
phia Navy Yard
The bin proposed to give the historic
craft place of honor on the Washing
ton water front, where it could be visit
ed annually by thousands of school
children from all over the country.
Intends to Push Measure.
Representative Cochran, Democrat,
of Missouri, author Of the pending bill
intends to push the measure vigorously
In the incoming session and will ask
for hearings just AS soon as the House
naval affairs committee is officially or
ganized. He has the support of a ma
jorlty of the members of that commit
tee and Of high officials of the Navy
and of the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, In whose custody
the Olympia would be placed as a me-
mortal. under his bill. Several Repub-
lican members are ready to introduce
similar legislation,
Representative Cochran said he felt
impelled to present this bill Clong be-
fore the Navy board inspected the
Olympia) after talking with visiting
children, many of whom had never
seen any of the Nations war craft and
all OF whom were eager to see some of
the historic vessels, such as Old Iron
sides and the Olympia. What could
be more inspiring of patriotism in the
youth of today" said Representative
Cochran. than to visit Hams Point or
some other suitable location convenient
for visitors to the Capital. and see the
veteran battleShip on the bridge of
which Admiral Dewey stood They can
look up then to the marble memorial
on the verdant hillside of Arlington
National Cemetery to the tomb of the
| Unknown and get n"ver-to-be-fo for
gotten thrill realizing Sat his old
ship, brought home the body of the
unknown hero"
Gambrin will Lend Aid.
Among the members Of the House
naval affairs committee who will
earnestly support the proposal to pre-
serve the Olympia as a memorial is
Representativ Stephen w. Cambria of
Maryland, in whose district many of the
employees of the Washington Navy
Yard live. One of the alternative pro-
posals is to dock the Olympia at the
Navy Yard. Representative Gambrill
said today that he is eager to help put
through this measure as the Olympia
is one of the Nations most historic YES
sells. which took part in stirring and
mementous events in our history
Having brought home the Unknown
Soldier, it should be preserved as a
shrine that can be visited by children
and adults alike from all parts of the
country. 1t should be brought to Wash
ington and permanently preserved here.
There is no more fitting location than
on the Washington water front. where
it will visualize the history it helped
to make much more wildly than any
sculptured marble or bronze
Report Indicates Scrapping.
Dispatches from Philadelphia de-
clare thaG 0fnclalS OF the navy yard
there believe the report made to the
Secretary of the Navy by a board of
inspection and survey indicates early
scrapping Of the ship unless Congress
intervenes.
This board, headed by Admiral
George c. Day and composed of six
officers. inspected the Olympia last Fri
day. The ship has rested in the Phil
adelphia yard since her last proud job
that OF bringing to America the body of
the Unknown Soldier from France
Recommendations made by this board
are as follows:
The board believes that the best in
terestS of the department would be
served by removing the Olympia from
the Navy list. either by sale or by such
other disposition as may be warranted
by her historical value. The OLYMPIA
is a vessel of obsolete type which has
a very limited military value and no
commercial value except for breaking
up for scrap"
The Olympia was built at San Fran
cisco and launched November 25, 1892.
On January 3. 1898, it became Admiral
Dewey's flagship. During the World
War, it was the flagship of the Ameri-
can fleet in Russian waters, and in
1921 brought the body of the Unknown
Soldier to the United States. 1t was
last used in 1922 for the cruise of the
Naval Academy'S classes and has since
been in the Philadelphia Navy Yard.