The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-24
IT'S BELIEVED TO Be A GREAT VICTORY
Washington Hasn't Direct News Battle but
Miles Thinks o he
Indicates the Success the American

that he had asked to get into the actual
fighting by going to Cuba and there ~
suming command of the troops. This
was contradictory TO the reports circu-
lated few days ago that General Miles
would take command of the Porto Rico
expedition. When General Miles atten-
ton was drawn to the several conflict
ing reports to-nights. he good d-naturedly
declined to discuss them. He considered
1t inadvisable to give any intimation az
to when or where he would go. His long
conference with Secretary Alger during
the afternoon lent some color to the re-
port that the generals future arrange
ments were under consideration
The details of the accident on the
Yankee on Decoration day have just
reached the navy department. While
the ship was at sea a trial was made Of
the guns. One. a six-pounder. using
English smokeless powder. hung flre
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. both OF
the United States marine corps The
powder is believed to be defective. as
other hang-fires have been had with
il. 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. were hurt.
The British consul at Havana. Mr..
Gollan, who has SO well protected such
interests In Havana as were necessarily
left in his care. is to quit Havana for
home leave. He has been long time
I'm 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 Amer
lean interests.
Representative Pearson. uncle Of
Naval Constructor Hobson. had another
long interview to-day with Secretary
Long respecting the reward of that
hero. The secretary is puzzled by the
conflicting interests in the case. He in
tends to reward Hobson in accordance
with the merits of his feat. but would
like to do this without injustice to 9TH
er officers.
A study of the naval register shows
that IL Hobson is advanced to the grade
of lieutenant commander he will have
been given a greater award than was
ever known in our naval htstory.
Cushing got 56 numbers and gained one
year and nine months time in hts rec
ord, yet Hobson, II is calculated. will be
given. IL he Is made a naval COM
mander. 344. and viii gain 20 years In
time. He will become senior ofhcer of
the navy in the course of about Is
years. and owing to his youth. will re-
tain that place no less than 20 years.
something absolutely without prece-
dent in the annals of the navy. These
facts are being adduced by naval Of
ficials, who are desirous of finding some
other means of rewarding our naval
heroes and which. while thoroughly
satisfactory to them and their friends.
will not work injustice to others. As
one instance of how the present prac-
tice works. the officers point to the fact
that for his splendid achievement at
Manila. Dewey only gained 10 numbers
while. astounding as II may seem. in
stead of 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
Clark actually loses three numbers
through the promotion over his head
of officers engaged in the battle Of Ma
Mia bay.
Captain Sigsbee is cited also as a case
in point. having suffered the loss of
several numbers. representing a year
or two of naval service through the
Manila rewards.