New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-04
A CHECK TO PROMOTIONS.
NOTHING DONE HOWEVER TO COR
RECT FORMER INJUSTICE
LIST ~ NAVAL OFFICERS WITH FINE RECORDS
WHO SUFFERED FROM THE DEPART

lny rriBGrArn TO TIE rRrrrNEl

has officially recognized the Injustice attending
the degradng Of $50 officers through the pro-
motion Of participants in naval engagements NJ
Manila and Santiago. and upon minor occasions
in the war with Spain by preparing Dill Whlch
Secretary Long will ask Congress to substitute
for Sections JOG and LOO. which permitted
the promotion Of officers not exceeding thirty
numbers with the consent Of tie Senate l"r
eminent and conspicuous conduct in batte OF
extraordinary heroism' In this measure sec
rotary Long has devised to reward brave ON
GERS with medal Of honor and an Increase OF
10 per cent in their pay az long as they may I'VE.
CuriOusy enough. IT - not contemplated that
this amendment to the law shall correct the in
Justice already accomplished. hut its provisions
are designed wholly to affect subsequent cases
The promotions Of the seven commanders in Ad-
miral Dcvev's feet. at the expense of thirty
other officers which were confirmed by the Sen
ate of course cannot he modified without Con-
gressional action. but the thrty-eight promo
lions which have occurred in the recess Of Con-
eress and which must receive the sanction of
the Senate to become effective. VIII he per
mtted to stand according TO the present inten-
zion OF the naval authorities. and in all propa-
blity hundred more Announcements "' tAe
same sort viii be made in the next month or
two as thc result - the proceedings of the
Board or which Admiral Sicari appointed
president several DAYS ago.
This attitude of the Navy Department officials.
which is deprecated by most officers in the ser
vice including nearly all thos" who have thus
far been Jumped over their colleagues at the
latter's expense is understood tn be due rather
to a failure 70 appreciate the deep significance
that loss of numbers 10 naval officer In
wolves not only in the estimation Of those In the
service, but Of those out Of It.
PUNIsHMENT FOR OFFENCES.
- Practically III" only two punishments for Of
fences committed by naval officers are those of
dismissal from the service and loss of numbers
The forme- is ~ exceedingly rare occurrence
and has occurred only once or twice in the las;
two or three years in cases Of officers conyic'-
ed upon most serious charges II is 2 scntcnc"
which requires the approval Of the President ~
the United States Nine out Of ten Of all tho
sentences OF court martial provide specifically
for the loss Of numbers o. for terms Of suspen-
sion which involve loss o. numbers. and the
gravity Of the offence upon which an officer is
convicted is supposed 10 be directly measured
by the numbers h. loses.
Among the principal naval court martial SEN
fences Of RI" last few years the following are
cited examples
court martial. sentence 10 thr"" y'ars suspension
lost nine numbers .,.. ,.r..
trial, sentenced 10 one years suspension and to
lose ton numbers
fenced 10 SUSPENSION three months and TO retain
numbers until he has lost three flies Suspension
LYMAN. G. H.. lieutenant. similar trial and SEN
fenced 10 be reduced six numher- ..,,,
Adams = \ lieutenant commander. similar ifiai
and sentenced BE- reduced - tn" foot oi ll-i oi
lieutenant commando Lost forty .iIr numbers
L, Z, liant lfrpfi
to Suspension one year. Lost twelve NUMBER
Coleman r. ensisn .in's. tria an; AM
to loss OF six numbers.
tenced 10 lose four numbers
LOSS TO DESERVING OFFICERS
II f. perha9s unnece Isary to rccapituatc the
exact nature Of the offences for which these
sentences were imposed or to enter upon diT-
cussion as to their merits. Many 81 them were
considered extremcly cnient. and in III" case of
Commander McCalla whos' conduct led - much
popular Indignation, II NAV be mentioned that
eight of the officers who passed him whil" h.
was unfc- suspension petitiOncd the Navy De
pertinent ~ restor- him 10 his Original rank.
These sentences are collected here in order that
they may be compared with the similar punish
ments inflicted upon deserving officers 10y means
Of the promotions recently made. These
follow.
LOST FIVE NUMBERS
Captain c. " Chester. commanding the cruiser
Cincinnati. Participated in all engagements I'm
Mohile Bav; wa commissioned master at the close
of the civil Wa. Has thanks Of British Govern.
ment for heroism in commanA of the Galena In
1856 when the Hist brian sank Selected site for
Puget Sound Navy Yard Has one OF the best
records Ia the service viii be prevented 10y losses
from ever becoming rear-admraL
LOST FOUR NUMBERS
Captain G. J. Barclay. commanding the monitor
Amphitr, in the present war. Veteran Of the
Civil War Has unblemished record OF exceedingly
active service.
Captain Nlchol Ludlow. commanding the monitor
Terror for the las; twelve months Helped to capt
ure tho Confederate cruiser Florida. at Bahia,
Brazil. in 1864 Was active Throughout the Civit
War Attached to the ironclad monitor Monai-
mock. 1868. on hazardous passage from Philadelphia
20 Mare Island. volunteering fo- that duty. Has
Eap,ain p r Harrington. commandlne the puri-
tan sine. los March Participated in all opera
oTI ar "I br y ana bc Tc4r5 @nG wn s
at ore time president Of the steel Board
LOST THREE NUMBERS
Captain \. NJ Dyer. commanding the Baltimore
the battle Of Manila. silenced shore batteries at
CaVitf Entered voluniee- Navy in 1861 az masters
mate quickly promoted acting ensign for gallant
conduct. and received command Of Il vessel Pro-
s sIT o f., ali nei,ine ~ MohUe M III Iy' o
Mobile his vessel sunk under him by "A tor
pedo. Received medal for bravery IN 1870 Has a
remarkable record OF active ssrvlCc
Captain G. J. Clark, commanding the Oregon.
Captain f. \, Cook commanding the BroO@fyn
Commodore II. IL ROheson. awaiting orders
Participated with conspicuous eallnutry through
out ~" Ciyil War
Captain Il L. Leary. commanding the Snn Fran
cisco Civl War veteran Senior Officer az samoa
during the revolution OF 1853
captain ~. H. Whiting COMMANDING the Monad-
mock. Took that vessel across inc Pacinc 10 rein.
force Dewey. civil War veteran. attached TO the
Hartford. Commended by Farragut la general
orders for gallant conduct under guns OF Fort
Morgan" foIsted United states nag al Fort
Gaines.
Lieutenant Comma ndtr j. f. Moscr. commanding
the Aibatross Ran the line OF levels at Panama
adopted by DE Iesseps and those Nicaragua
adopted by the United States. Most OF HE career
has been IN Coast Survey work
Lieutenant & Z fnmnnder Charles - Bowman.
anuiufnoo, officer a no Mar Ia.r.i Navv Yard