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

pile and sorted. Some were labeled
most OF them were not.
What have we here? Nothing but
a potpourri of flrepieces; have shot
their day and past. Some are British
some French and others are captured
1 German pieces. They wear new coats
Of camouflage. The United States Mu-
scum gives them the best attention
even though it can offer no protection
under a roof What we have here is q
representative group Of cannon. These
guns won and lost the World War
They bore the brunt Of every battle. To
prove that, look at their proud scars
Some have glorious history. others have
none. Whatever their history, 1t Is
lost"
| A ND the Navy Yard. Here" said
the historian, ordnance lives up
! to its highest traditions: that is, high
powered ordnance. The 40-foot lathes
turn guns day and night. Endless
belts, fire-breathing chimneyS CRIME
stained men.
I'm the yard are the prides of an
tiquity. The gun sunk with the u. S
s.. Maine when struck by hidden mine
in Havana Harbor. They hoisted it out
OF the sea, and now 1t stands here to
commemorate seamen who went down
to death, innocent.
| "All around are mortars, howitzers
field pieces and projectiles. These fur
nish inspiration for present day can
stubby and clumsy looking. Some
came from afar. Here's one from
China: fought in the Boxer Rebellion
Another from the Battle of San Juan,
and this one from Saratoga and Stony
Point.
This yard itself is wealthy in the
history Of cannondom. It has improved
materially on the mechanical feats in
volved in turning out long distance dy-
namiters. The art Of emhlazoning, en-
craving and naming pieces has long
disappeared. The new cannon are made
for killing. not parades.
Eyes. to kill, not to parade" And
he went on to detail at length some
Capital. Too long to quote, they are
appended here in phrases Of our own
| Benjamin Stoddert, first Secretary OF
the Navy, was the moving spirit behind
the first navy yard. He asked Congress
to appropriate 100000 for six men
o'-war. to be named after six principal
American cities.
Congress purchased 40 acres Of land
and B. H. Latrobe. architect Of the
lCapitol and other public buildings, drew
up the plans. That was in 1900. BY
| 1906 three vessels had been launched
In 1914, when the British attacked the
Capital. our navy yard suffered heavily.
[ Rather than see Britishers destroy
national property, the Secretary of the
Navy ordered the yard burnt. The blaze
cost US 100000, o staggering sum In
those cradle days.
| After being rebuilt the yard flourish
ed. In 1885 it took on new life. how
ever, when Secretary Of the Navy Will
liam G. Whitney abolished several OF
its departments and inaugurated the
practice of manufacturing naval
mounts, ornaments and high-powered
rifles.
| A story grounded on more than tradi-
ton surrounds that told about a
hero's leg. In the corner of one of the
navy yards metal shops lies a mans
leg-a real hero's leg. 1t once served
Col. Uric Dahlgren, Union Cavalry
officer, who was wounded in q charge
through the bullet-ridden streets of
Hagerstown, Md. Upon his arrival in
the Capital physicians found it neces-
sary to amputate his leg. The best
medical talent performed the operation.
The severed leg was held in the
greatest awe, and seeking some way of
perpetuating this soldiers honor 1t was
decided to lay his leg in stony
sarcophagus. where its memory would
be enshrined forever.
/ The hero's father was the famous
Admiral John A. Dahlgren, former
commandant Of the navy yard and
chief Of the Nays bureau of ordnance,
also inventor OF the Dahlgren gun.
While young Dahlgren lay on his
hospital bed he was visited by President
Lincoln and Secretary Stanton. who
brought the soldier an honorary COM
mission OF colonel Of volunteers.