The evening times., 1898-07-05
REWARD FOR MERIT.
The Bravery of Our Sailors md SOl-
diers VIII BE RecOe nised.

President Mckinley will send a mes
sage 10 Congress some day this week an
nouncing the destruction of Admiral Ger
vera's fleet and recommending Rear Ad-
miral Sampson and the officers and men
under his command to the consideration
of that body. Instructions were sent by
Secretary Alger today TO Major General
Shafter directing him to cable 10 the War
Department the names of officers espe-
cially deserving of promotion. Action
will be taken in their cases at once.
In these ways the President purposes
to reward the naval and army officers
who have distinguished themselves at
Santiago de Cuba. The reward which will
be given to Acting Rear Admiral Samp-
son will be as great as that given TO Rear
Admiral Dewey. 1t is purposed that he
shall receive the thanks of Congress and
be promoted one grade. The retirement
of Rear Admiral Kirkland on Sunday last
provides for him a vacancy in the grade
Of commodore, and his nomination to
this rank was sent to the Senate yes,er-
day. \ provision of the law authorizes
the advancement of an officer one grade
upon receiving the thanks OF Congress.
and Rear Admiral Sampson, 1t is there
fore expected. will exchange his gunboat
commission. as his acting appointment il
called. for regular commission as rear
admiral.
Besides the thanks of Congress and pro-
motion for Rear Admiral Sampson. he
will receive sword, and the men under
his command will receive a medal. in
commemoration of their services in the
battle. Rear Admiral Sampson will be
called upon TO name officers under his
command deserving of promotion and as
soon as his report is received some OF
the officers OF his command will be nom
mated for advancement in their present
grades.
What Will be done for Commodore
Schley, who commanded "A division of
the fleet. and Commodore Watson. who
was also present. cannot now be def
niteiy stated 1t is known that Commo-
dore Schley took part in the engagement
as the Brooklyn had one man killed and
two wounded. but Commodore Watson's
part cannot be indicated for the reason
that he is in command of the Newark
and was at Santiago de Cuba for the
purpose OF discussing with Rear Admiral
Sampson the details connected with the
formation of the Eastern squadron.
Besides the officers, the department, in
vised Statutes. purposes to give to each
man "a bounty for each person on board
any ship or vessel of war belonging to
an enemy at the commencement of an
engagement, whichNis sunk or otherwise
destroyed in such engagement by any
ship or vessel belonging to the United
States. or which 1t may be necessary to
destroy, in consequence of injuries -sus-
tained in action. of 800. if the enemy's
vessel was of inferior force, and of 500
If of equal or superior force, to be di-
vided among the officers and crew in the
same manner as prize money
1t 10 estimated by department officials
that at least $S20, 600 will be thus divided.
In addition to this. the officers and men
who participated in the engagement will,
share in the prize money obtained from
the salvage of the property removed from
the sunken vessels, and If the Cristobal
Colon should be in good condition the Gov
ernment will be compelled to pay to the
officerS annd the men the same as IL she
were an ordinary prize
1t Is proposed by the President to re-
ward some of the brigadier generals who
fought bravely under General Shafter nv
promoting them to be major generals.
There are seventeen appointments to this
rank remaining to be made, and thew
were purposely kept open by the Presi-
dent In order that they might be given in
recognition of meritorious services. The
promotion of brigadier generals will re-
suit in the promotion of junior officers to
the former rank Among the names prom-
inently mentioned are those of Colonel
Wood and Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt.
the leaders of the Rough Riders. who
have been specially prominent in the op-
erations before Santiago de Cuba.