Evening star., 1941-02-16
Veterans Of '98 Hear
Appeals for Unity al
BattIeship Maine Fete
Cuban Envoy and
Gen. Hines Back
Presidents Policies

Pleas for unity of the Nation be-
hind President Roosevelt in the de-
fense effort and for unity of the
Americas in support of democracy
justice and right" were heard by
members Of the Department of the
District of Columbia United Spanish
War Veterans, yesterday as they
observed the 43d anniversary of de.
struction of the battleship Maine.
Speaking at memorial service in
Concheso, Cuban Ambassador, de-
elared:
IF the blasting of the American
battleship caused the intervention
Of this great Nation to contribute
TO the consolidation of democratic
and republican institutions Of all the
Americas, in this historic instant.
when the highest conquest Of the
human spirit seems to be drowned
In the insanity of men of other con-
tinents. America must march united,
so that the blood shed by the
martyrs of the Maine might not be
in vain, but might serve as a spur
and a stimulus to avoid the pre-
dominance in our continent of prin-
clpleS other than the reign of de-
nocracy, justice and right as a
standard to regulate and inspire our
American civilization.
Pact of Honor" Cited.
Cuba and the United States, who
sealed with the blood of their heroes
Jan ndestructble pact of honor to
night for the common destinies of
democracy and liberty, are today as
gclose as they were in 1898, ready to
defend the principles on which
]nemocratic and republican institu-
tions are established"
& Brig. Gen. Frank T. Hines, ad-
ministrator of veterans affairs, ad-
dressed banquet last night in the
Willard Hotel arranged to honor
Judge Rufus E. Foster of New Or
leans. La. commander in chief of
the U. S. w. ", stating his opinion
national unity is the most i'm
portant issue which confronts our
country today-a national unity in
support of President Roosevelt's far
seeing policies"
s Cuba continues to remember her
treatment by the United States
after the Spanish american War
and now regards it as striking
contrast to the beautiful list of
abuses that we have been seeing
lately in the world, Dr.. Vincente
Valdes Rodriguez, Counselor of the
Cuban Embassy declared in greet
ing the dinner assembly.
Senator Schwartz Heard.
Senator Schwartz of Wyoming,
Representative Smith of Washing
ton and Mrs. Betty BaSsett, national
auxiliary president, also spoke. De-
partment Commander Calvin B.
Lucas was toaStmaSter, and among
other head table guests were
Leonard j. Bacon, department COM
mander of the Veterans of Foreign
Wars; William H Hargrave, depart
ment commander of the American
Legion, and Joel E. Thacker, de-
paftment commander OF the Dis
abled American Veterans.
Music at the dinner and at the
afternoon memorial service was
provided by the United States Ma
rine Band Orchestra under direction
OF Capt. w. F. Santelmann.
Commander in Chief Foster gave
an address during the memorial
service. and the invocation and
benediction we're pronounced by the
Rev. w. M. La Roche, chaplain.
Earlier, the Ladies Auxiliary
placed wreaths at the Maine Me-
mortal in Arlington National Gene
terry on behalf of President Roosevelt
and national and local organizations
of Spanish-American War veterans.
Maj, Felipe Munilla, Cuban Mill
tary Attache, placed a wreath in the
name Of the Cuban Ambassador.