Gov. Bourke B. Hickenlooper, in a colorful ceremony in the chamber of the house of representatives, Monday formally presented a 46-year-old silver service to the new battleship Iowa, "the mightiest of all fighting ships.--------------------------
The service, which would cost as much as $25,000 to replace today, was accepted by Capt. John. L. McCrea, commanding officer of the Iowa, who came to Des Moines for the presentation.----------------------
The 24-piece service was donated by the state in 1897 to the old battleship Iowa, which saw battle action in the Spanish-American war and which was decommissioned and sunk in target practice in 1923.----------------------
The State Historical society, 'meantime, has maintained custody of the service and actually will continue to do so until after the war.----------------------
Captain McCrea said it would not be practical to move the service to the ship at present.----------------------
The commander of the Iowa said the navy department could have selected the name of any one of a dozen other states for the new battlewagon but expressed confidence that the department "picked the right name for the right ship.--------------------------
"The name of Iowa was deliberately chosen for a ship for which so much is expected," he said. "Sailing under your name implies your trust in us.--------------------------
Captain McCrea referred to the scrapping of the third battleship Iowa, shortly after its keel was laid, in keeping with the disarmament treaty.--------------------------"I suggest that the, word `scrap' will, have a different meaning with the new Iowa" the commanding officer declared.----------------------
The house chamber was packed for the presentation ceremony and the crowd gave Captain McCrea a prolonged ovation when Governor Hickenlooper introduced him as the "boss" of the Iowa "which is not surpassed or equaled [sic] by any ship in the world.--------------------------
The governor said Captain McCrea "knows all oceans and knows all ships." He said Iowa is "justly proud" that the captain's great ship was named after this state,--------------------------"Iowa has contributed in full measure in the war effort," the governor said, "and I do not say that to boast or to say that Iowa will not make further contributions.--------------------------
The Iowa council of B'nai Brith also made a presentation to Captain McCrea for the men of his ship. The gift includes subscriptions to 163 magazines with leather covers for them, a piano, a cello, a phonograph with records, games, recording machines and funds for three parties for the ship's men.----------------------
Referring to suggestions that the gifts were for use of the men----------------------
in leisure time, Captain McCrea said that he did not contemplate----------------------
much leisure time for the crew of the Iowa. To put the ship "in condition" is a tremendous job, he said, and "I'm an impatient boss." He said it would be a big job to put a ship one tenth the size of the Iowa in condition.
