The San Francisco call., 1898-06-28
REWARDS FOR
 NAVAL HEROES Recommended by the
 President. ADVANCEMENT OF ROBSON
THANKS OF CONGRESS AND
 PROMOTION.
Bravery of the Men of the Cutter Hudson and the Captain of the Hugh McCulloch Rec
 ognized.
speelal plspatch to Ths Can.

WASHINGTON, June 27.-The Presi- dent to-day sent two special messages to Congress providing for the recogni- ton of the services of Lieutenant Hob son, the hero of the NIerrimac: of Lieu tenant Newcomb and his crew of the revenue cutter Hudson, which rescued the torDedo boat Winslow at Cardenas; of Captain Hodgsdon of the dispatch boat Hugh McCuloch, which figured in the battle at Manila, and of Ma val Cadet Joseph Wright Powell. who held the steam launch under the bluffs at Santiago harbor searching for the crew of the Merrimac. Authority is asked of the Senate for the transfer of Hobson from the construction corps to the line of the navy, and the President announces that with such authority given he will, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, suitably ad- vance Hobson in the line. The Hudson's crew is to be given a vote of thanks and medals of commemoration. Captain Hodgsdon is to be suitably recognized.
 Tn his message as to Hobson the President says, after quoting Admiral Sampson's praise of the Merrlmac heroes:
 Cushing, with whose gallant act in b1owing up the ram Albemarle durlhB lhe Civil War Admiral Sampson compares Mr. Hobson's sinking of the Merrimac, received the thanks of Congress, upon recommendation of the President, ana was in consequence, under the proNls- to%e of section 150S of Revised Statutes, advanced one grade, such adNancemeht embracing fifty-siX numbers. ne secuoIl cited applies, however, 10 ilIe olICeI ; ; only. and Mr HobsOn, being member of inc staff of the navy, could not, uhuer its provisions, be so advanced. ,.-,,..
 In considering the question or sulIapIy -e1la rding Assistant Naval Constructor IIohson for his valiant conduct on the oc- casion referred to, l have deemed It Droner to address this message to you RT,tb +he recommendation that he receive inc thanks of Congress, ana, 1urtner .L : /, that he be transferred to the line or the 1avv and promoted to such position 4berair as the President, by ana with the od,ice and consent of the Senate, may de- terufne. Mir. Hobson's transfer rom the construction corps to the me IS lully Wal, Wal - Tanted he having received the hecessdiy technical training as a grauudSe QI lic SSoTai Academy where he stood No. Tn bis class. and such action IS recommenoe9 Dar+lv in deference to what IS unoerSt0ou P be his own desire, although he being Iovr 1o Q rrisoner in the hands of the enemy, no direct communication on the suoJect boe beeu received from nm. anu partly TOT tte, LHS ot Santiago are of such char acc+ar as to indicate especial ntness TOT the duties of the line.
 The second message is in part as fol- lows: o
 ,,rred a conflict in the bay or CardenaS, Smba in which the naval torpedo boat Tinsiow was disabled, her commander ,"art of her crew killed by the enemy's s hTe; Ire, the face of a most galling fire from +ba enenv's guns the revenue cutter Hud- son commanded by First Lleutenant ISra,,,l, R NeWcomb, rescued the disabled T4ins1oW her wounded commander and n,5I.oipfp1 crew The commander or the Ifndso,, Rent his vessel in the very not taet fire of the action, although Ill con etant danger of running ashore on ac- count of low water, ana nliy bnt iai'uv teeeeI +o the Winslow and lowed that Vessei oI,t of range of the enemy's guns. deed of special gallantfy. t +,,-
 I recommend that, in recognition or the signal act of heroism of t1rst Lleuten- a1t Frank B. NeWcomb, United states rev anue cutter service above set forth, the thanks of Congress be extended to him and 10 his officers and men of the Tucson, and a gold medal of honor be presented [ TIeut tenant Newcomb. silver medal or honor to each of his officers, and bronze medal of honor to each member of his crew who served with him at CardenaS.
 IT will be remembered that Congress, Inv appropriate action, recognized the seV- eTal commanders or ships Of war Tor fbeir services in the battle of Manila, May Tbe commander of the revenue cutter Hugh McCulloch, present and in active co0Deration with the fleet under Rear Admiral Dewey on that occasion (by ex- ecutive order under the provisions of see~ ton 2775 Revised Statutes), is the only commander of @ national ship to whom nrornotion or advancement was not ana could not be given because he already