The record-union., 1898-06-24

ing battalions of the Thirty-fourrh
Michigan and the Ninth Massachusetts
Regiments. These will complete Gen
eral Duffields command. The Third
Virginia, which belongs to this brigade,
will not go, as it's equipment is incom-
plete.
The orders also cover the entire bri
gade of Brigadier General Garretson,
which includes the Sixth Illinois, Sixth
Massachusetts and Eighth and Ninth
Ohio Regiments. The plan is to move
all Of General Henry's division on the
two round trips. The first trip will
carry most, if not all, of General Daft
fields brigade. The War Department
allows three days for the trip, two days
to unload the troops and three days TO
return to Newport News, making eight
days. BY that time General Garret-
sons brigade will be at Newport News
ready to go on board the ships, and
then comes the second trip. taking three
days, with two days allowed for Ga-ret-
Reports were current at the War De-
partment again to-day that General
Miles, commanding the army, would
leave the city within the next two days.
1t was asserted also that he had asked
to get into the acutal fighting by going
to Cuba, and there assuming command
of the troops. This was contradic-
tory to the reports circulated few
days ago that General Miles would take
command Of the Porto Rico expedi-
ton. When General Miles attention
was drawn to the several conflicting re
ports tonight, he good-naturedly de-
clned to discusss them. He consid-
cred it inadvisable to give any intima-
ton as to when or where he would go.
His long conference with Secretary Al
ger during the afternon lent some color
to the report that the Generals future
arrangements were under considera-
ton
The details of the accident on the
Yankee on Decoration Day have just
reached the Navy Department. While
trial was being made of the guns, one,
a six-pounder, using English smokeless
powder, hung fire after the trigger was
pulled. The gunner, without waiting,
threw open the breech just as the
charge exploded. The rear blast killed
Corporal J. j. Murray and severely but
not seriously wounded Private Jesse
Fuller, United States Marine Corps.
The powder is believed to be defective,
as other hang fires have been had with
it, and if used at all in the future it
will be with great caution. None of the
naval militiamen, who in large part
man the Yankee, We're hurt
The British Consul at Havana Mr.
Gollan, who has so we'll protected such
necessarily left In his care, is to quit
Havana for home leave. He has been
a long time in Havana continuously
and has been under much strain lately.
during his absence Mr.. Jerome, Vice
Consul, will assume charge of the con
sulate, along with the care of the
American interests.
Representative Pearson, uncle of
Naval Constructor ~Hobson, had another
long interview to-day with Secretary
hero. The Secretary is puzzled by the
conflicting interests in this case. He
intends to reward Hobson in accord
ance with the merits of his feat, but
would like to do this without injustice
to other officers. A study of the naval
register shows that if Hobson is ad-
vanced to the grade of Lieutenant
Commander he will be given a great
er reward than was ever known in our
naval history. Gushing got fifty-siX
| months time in his record, yet Hob
son, it Is calculated, will be given, if
made a naval commander, 344 numbers
and Will gain twenty years in time. He
will become senior officer of the navy
in the course of about fifteen years,
and, owing to his youth. will retain that
place no less than twenty years, some
thing absolutely without precedent III
| the annals of the navy. These facts
are being adduced by naval officers,
who are desirous of finding some other
means of rewarding our naval heroes
which, while thoroughly satisfactory to
them and their friends, will work no in
justice to others.
AS one instance Of how the present
practice works, the officers point to the
fact that for his splendid achievement
at Manila, Dewey gained only ten num-
bers, while, astounding as 1t may seem,
instead of a reward for his excellent
management and seamanship in bring
ing the great battleship Oregon sue
cessfully through one of the most re-
markable cruises on record, Captain
Clarke actually loses three numbers
through the promotion over hts head of
officers engaged in the battle of Manila
Bay. Captain Sigsbee is cited also as
case in point, having suffered the loss
of several numbers, representing year
or two of naval service, through the
Manila rewards
/