New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-01
NAVAL HEROISN AND ITS REWARD.

The actions of the present war hav" shown
clearly that the historic daring Of the United
States Navy still anmates that service. The
achievement Of Constructor HObson Is pre-
eminent In It's exaltaton and self sacrifice. To
him the Nation owes 4 debt not only for the
material results Of his act Mt Santiago de Cuba,
but rs we'll for the evidence given the world
that the United States. although absorbed Tor
n generation in the development Of the re-
sources Of half continent. Is not az yet I'M
warlike. that in the skill and daring Of It's
fighting men It stands az Of old In the front
rank OF the nations Of the world. For the due
recognition of Mr. Hobson's gallantry two
plans have been proposed, both including the
thanks OF Congress. The first Of these con
templated his retention in his present corps and
his advancement by ten numbers on the list Of
constructors The second provided for Mr..
Hobson's transfer to the line Of the Navy, as
No. - on the list Of lieutcnant-cOmmand-
ers or the lowest ranking officer Of that grade.
To the latter plan. involving transfer 10 the
line and promotion therein. the President In his
recent message 10 Congress has given approval
In considering the two counter propositions
we find that advancement by ten numbers on
the list of constructors would give Lieutenant
out casualties and in the normal course of re
tirements due to age. he would reach in about
two and two-thlrds years, or early in 1901. the
rank Of commander In that corps, with a pay
per annum of S3.7OO. and would further be
eligible for appointment as Chief Constructor or
the Navy, with a salary Of $1,000 per year, a
post for which in the rapid development Of
modern naval construction his marked ability,
d oorl, aipip n
and his willingness to assume responsibility
would seem to be eminently desirable qualities.
On the other hand transfer to the line, with the
rank proposed. would give Lieutenant Hobson
an initial pay of only $500 per apnum. It
would however. place him above officers OF
long service in that branch who entered the
Navy score of years before his naval life began,
and. further. il would make him in about Gf
teen years the senior Roar-Admiral Of the Navy.
n rank which he would hold for fully fifteen
years more. Great as is the Nations debt 10
him. such a reward would seem to be almost
dlsprOportiOnate. when there is considered the
noble history. as a body. of the line Of the
Navy. In the making OF a hero IS required not
only supreme courage but the opportunity for
IFS exercise, and the opportunity cnme TO only
one of the gallant officers Of line and staff who
are with sampson. II must ne remembered
that the hero of the Merrlmac. the prisoner Of
Santiago. has not as yet spoken. Heroism such
as his is essentially most modest II may be
doubted. therefore. whether he would care to
accept great an advancement rs is proposed
IN his transfer 10 the line as a Lieutenant con-
mander.
1t IL regrrttabe 10 note more than well
founded suspicion that the proposition for Lieu
tenant Hobson's transfer 10 the line originated
with and Is now strongly favored by certain
officers Of the Construction Corps. with whose
careers Hobsons advancement as a constructor
and the prestige which his name will carry al
ways would materially interfere. As to this II
may be said that Lieutenant Hobson was grad
uated first in his class at Annapolis; that, with