The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-06-15

Congress mas again set IN mOGlon
4 movement to bring the U. s. s.
Olympia to Washington as a
memorial to the men and women
who laid down their lives for the
United States in the war with
Spain.
There have been many ships in
the histories Of all nations which
have gained fame for one battle
or another, but there are none
which can boast a greater victory
than the Olympia at Manila Bay.
Dewey's Flaghip
It was on the bridge Of that
same bold Olympia, on "the
verge Of May" 1898, at precisely
$40 o'clock on the morning that
Admiral George Dewey sent his
famous message to Capt. G. V.
Gridley, commander of the vessel:
"YOu may fire when you're
ready Gridley."
And six hours and so minutes
later the pride of the Spanish
navy had been vanquiShed by the
accurate gunnery of American
bluejacketS, the Americans eScap-
ing almost unscathed.
It was also from the Olympia,
his flagship, that Admiral Dewey
threatened to fire on German war.
ships if the ships of that nation
didn't get out Of his way in Manila
Bay.
The famous "Diedrichs incident"
occurred when the neutral Ger.
man ships in the harbor at Manila
Bay had lifted anchor without the
consent Of the American forces in
command there. It was then that
Admiral Dewey said:
"DOeS Admiral Won DiedrichS
think he commands here or do
I? Tell your admiral If he wants
war, I am ready"
And the German Admiral
turned to a young American lieu
tenant with the exclamation:
''Mein Cot! What is the mat
ter with yeur admiral?"
'Whereupon the lieutenant
replied:
'sNothing. He means every
thing he says"
As one Of her outstanding serv-
Ices, the Olympia was assigned in
September, 1921, to the duty Of
bringing home the Unknown
Soldier for burial in Arlington Ma
tional Cemetery. She left the
Philadelphia Navy Yard on this
mission on October 3, 1921, and
returned with the remains of the
unidentified hero on November 8,
1921.
Her Last Job
The simple services which
marked the return of the IN
known Soldier were one of the
most impressive ever witnessed in
Washington.
Government officials and Of
ficers in the military and naval
services met the Olympia gath.
cred at the Washington Navy
Yard that foggy November morn
ing and, with heads bowed, re-
moved the plain coffin draped
with the colorS from the deck Of
the vessel.
This was her last important
Job. After that her only con-
tribution was as a part of the
Nays exhibit at the sesquicenten-
nial exposition at Philadelphia.
Am@ &hara cha still &c
Authorized on September 7,
1883, the Olympia was built at the
Union Iron Works in San Fran
cisco, Cal. She was launched No
vember IS. 1892, named for capt.
tai city Of the State Of Wash
ington, and was commissioned on
February 5, 1895.
When she was built, she had
q normal displacement Of $685.
tons and was capable Of a speed
of $3.50 knots. She was armed
with 10 five.inch rapid-fire guns
and four eightinch long.range
guns.
She first saw service as the
flagship of Rear Admiral F. v.
McNair, from 1895 to 1898, cruiS-
ing In the waters Of Japan, China
and the Sandwich Islands.
Reconnaissance
After the Spanish-American
war, where she had done so nobly
under the command of Admiral
Dewey, she went out Of com.
sion, but in 1902 she was recon-
rAiSSioned under the command Of
Capt. H. w. Lyon and Joined the
North Atlantic Squadron as flag.
ship.
From December, 1903, to April,
1904, the Olympia was protecting
American lives and interests in
Panama, going on the same serv-
ice in June to Smyrna and Tur-
key, and the next year in Do
minican waters.
When the United States en-.
tered the World War she was en-
route from st. Thomas, Virgin
Islands, to the Norfolk Navy
Yard. A week later she was DIES.
ignated flagship Of the United
States patrol force.
She was employed in patrol
duty off the coast of Nova Scotia
and as ocean escort for British
merchantmen en- route to and
from New York and the war zone,
On April %, 1918, she sailed