Show A PROTEST From exNaval the Exhibition Officers Against Of an Imitation Battle Ship Made of Brick at tho Worlds Columbian Exposition Would Be Humiliating Special to THE HERALD Examiner Dispatch I CHICAGO Feb 2SCoples of the following follow-ing protest against the exhibition of an imitation i battleship signed by fifteen ex naval qilicers have been sent to the President Presi-dent of the United States the committee on naval affairs of the United States Senate Sen-ate the committee on naval affairs of the House of Representatives the officers and members of the Worlds Columbiancom mission uTo the committee on naval affairs House of Represennatlves Washington DC CGentlemen Gentlemen The undersigned property owners and residents of the city of Chicago Chi-cago who formerly served as officers in the United States navy and who still take an active interest in the welfare of the naval service respectfully represent that nava understand that it is proposed to construct with brick and mortar an imitation of a warship with guns made of cement etc as an exhibit at the time of tho Words fair here in 1803 lIn view of the fact that our navy ones so powerful has been so far eclipsed in strength and numerical force by many other natfons so that foreign and even our own periodicals are now disposed tospeak slightingly of our we respeciuhI slgbtingly navy respecttully suggest that the deliberate construction and exhibition of a sham ship built of such inappropriate materials upon such an occasion occa-sion will be sure to excite the ridicule of I those familiar with the powerful naval establishments of other less powerful nations and who are already disposed to comment unfavorably upon our present naval force iiAud we therefore respectfully respect-fully ask that tho proper measures be at once adopted to prevent such a humiliation to our navy and the nation and instead thereof the funds be used in constructing a steel vessel of modern character to replace the old worn out and obsolete steamer Michigan which in I its dilapitated condition and antiquated type will be an additional cause for ridicule at the expense of our government i it is seen at tho time of the Worlds fair as it probably would be Such a new steel vessel ves-sel might be a most creditable part of the government exhibit and would be of permanent per-manent closed value and use after the exhibition |