Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-09
APPEAL IS MADE
To DELAY JUNK|NG
DEWEYS FLAGSHIP
Representative Cochran Asks
Postponement Until
Congress Acts.
REINTRODUCING BILL .
FAVORED BY BRITTEN
Other Colleagues Will Be Asked
to Support Plan of Me-
mortal Here.

Direct appeal to Secretary Adams OF
the Navy Department to stay depart
mental proceedings toward scrapping as
junk Deweys flagship, the Olympia, I'M
til Congress has had an opportunity to
authorize its preservation in Washing
ton as memorial to be visited by
school children from all parts of the
country, was made today by Representa-
tive John j. Cochran of Missouri. who
has a bill pending before the House
naval affairs committee.
Previous to the departure OF Chair
man Britten of the naval affairs COM
mittee for Europe, Representative Coch-
ran had a conference with him at which
Mr.. Britten advised him to reintroduce
his bill and suggested use OF the ms
toric Olympia as a memorial TO the
soldiers and sailors of the Spanish
American War. Other members OF the
naval affairs committee have promised
to vote favorably upon such legislation.
Representative Cochran emphasized
today that during the last session CT
Congress Secretary Wilbur objected TO
his bill for bringing the Olympia to
the Capital to be given a place OF
honor off Hams Point, on the ground
that the vessel should be held in re-
serve and would be of value in the event
OF war. The recent action OF a board
of Navy officers who inspected the
OLYMPIA at Philadelphia Navy Yard
and recommended that she be con-
demned as sold as junk removes this
argument, Representative Cochran said
today.
He is seeking the support of his COL
leagues in Congress, and has been
promised the assistance of Spanish
War posts and other patriotic organ
izations throughout the States. Mem
bers of the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission favored the use
of the Olympia for a memorial on the
Washington water front.
Location a Question.
One of the alternative proposals is to
have the Olympia locked in the. Wash
irgton Navy Yard, where it would be
readily accessible to the public. Rep
resentative Gambrill of Maryland, who
is member of the House naval affairs
committee and many of whose constitu-
ents are employed in the washington
Navy Yard, is working earnestly with
Representative Cochran and Chairman
Britten to have this legislation passed
IEey are all perfectly WllliIlS W IcdNc
the location of the Olympia memorial
in Washington to the decision of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission.
The historic interest in the Olympia
IS felt not only by the youth of today,
but by their parents, who, in their own
Schooldays some 80 years ago, were
thrilled by Admiral Dewey's stirring
order from the bridge of the Olympia,
You may fire when you are ready,
Gridley" in the days when Remember
the Maine" was a slogan that swept the
country. Consequently, members of
Congress are receiving many letters
from all parts of the country urging
them to vote for the Cochran bill au-
thorizing the preservation of this his
toric craft.
Several members of the House naval
affairs committee are preparing speeches
on the subject to be delivered as soon
as the House meets again, in Septem-
Der, at which time Representative Coch-
ran hopes to have hearings on his bill
before the naval affairs committee.