New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-07
RECOGNITION FOR HOBSON.
HIS WISH ES TO BE CONSULTED
PROMOTION IN HIS CORPS OR TRANS
FER TO THE LINE MAY BE
OFFERED HIM
rrr TELEGRAPH ro THE rRIpuyE.l


rrr TELEGRAPH ro rRIpuSEl
Washington, June 6.-Substantal recognition
will be AWARDED Constructor Hobson for his
heroic conduct in the harbor of Santiago but
promotion is to be deferred until tha. young Of
ocers wishes have beer consulted and the Gov
ernment definitely learns whether ne prefers to
remain n member OF the corps that he has so
distinguished or to be transferred 10 the line
branch OF the Navy, for which he has recently
shown n decided preference on several OCCASIONS
The choice is open 10 him Of continuing in the
construction corps. with promotion and increase
or responsibility. or or being Jumped over the
heads OF many of the officers his senior IN the
line and appointed a full lieutenant, or possibly
n lleu,enant-commander. Advancement OF ten
numbers or ever one In his own corps "ouiu
give him higher rank and pay than MS transfer
10 the line with equal rank would entite hih'
~ md unless therefore the Department offers
him the rank Of at least lieutenant 1t il not be
ueved Young Iohson would accept the advance
ment.
Roth tho President and Secretary Long nave
concluded thar an net in which such CARING
and courage ~ remarkable degree were as
nlaved together with ability and discretion !"
conducting successfully his plan OF operation
calls FOR more than usual attention and merits
higher promotion
the commanding officers Of the Manila feet.
whose nominations were recently sent 10 the
Senate raising them from five 10 ten numners
IN their respective grades. 1t has been sug-
rcs,cd that a suitable reward for the young
hero would be 20 advance him ten numbers In
the construction corps which would place him
vcou I'D I'm tho list Of constructors ard rank him
ahead of officers commissioned long before ne
entered the Naval Academy. BY promoting MIN
10 this extent he would In n few years nave
sufficient rank to enable him to assume the du-
ties ~ chief Of his corps. and In later years Dy
rapld strides. he would stand a block TO
large number Of officers below him.
TALK OF TRANSFER TO THE LINE.
Every commanding officer in the battle OF
Manila was promoted for merltorious conduct.
and n what they did won for them advancement
~ tor numbers for a. least two officers the
admirers Of Hobson will not be satisfied II he
doas no, secure some more decided reward than
that There are some objections in the way OF
nromotlng Constructor Hobson in his own corps
even n he preferred remaining In II Instead OF
being assigned 10 line duty. Since 1t consists
~, co,rnarativelv few members. his promotion
would work serious hardshps TO hummer or
those over whose heads he would be advanced
yhue ~ ne were appointed to the line the inter
est or none would be sacrlil'ei. anu III 'He loHS
run his reward would be greater
The Navy Department has already consid-
cred tbe question of showing its appreciation Of
,ounp Uobson's courageous act. but has decided
20 defer sending hi. name to the Senate FOR pro-
.,tor until nlr wishes have been consulted
a., Informal discussion between Chief Con-
s,ruc,or Uchborn and Assistant Secretary
.ro, tb,s morning developed for the first time
On far as the Department knows. that young
Uohson for the last two years hao tXmpi'eo Il
leaning toward the line rather than tor the
construction corps. where there Is less oppor-
,unItv for displaying those attributes possesseH
hv him. which. the line men say, can De petter
doveIoned and exercised In their branch or the
eervice than In the merely scientific department
-, Tho Navy Among Hobson's colleagues there
&c q firm, conviction that II the Department or
fors him promotion by transfer to some OF the
higher grades Of the line II would he most ac-
ceptable to him and crafty his ambition more
.. .ha moro advancement Of ten numbers In
,i o,y, corns would Placed now at the bottom
~, tho lief ~ leutenants, Hobson would rate by
., Iaast ton years promotion classmates now en-
e,pns and this would result ultimately IN his be-
coming the Youngest commodore ini admlrai
NJ the whole service. Financially he would not
be benefited even by this transfer. ana his salary
,vould be at least 81 200 less than ne would re-
ceive as n naval constructor, a rank that ne
viii attain in any case soon and which ne Wouid
secure ~ promoted only one number by the
President.
HoRsON's MERITS AS WRITER
Although only twenty-eght years Of age. Hob
con has shown remarkable ability as writer
,nd student Of naval science. a few years ago
hia article on THE Coming War in Europe won
for him favorable mention by the Naval 1nsti-
r,a an organization composed almost exclu-
ci,,a,, ~ naval officers and devoted TO discus
clone NJ naval questions. His subject was re-
,arded os beyond that Of go young an officer,
hu. his treatment showed evidence OF acute
,ro,,ladoe Of H. His tendencies are to the theo-
roticaI rather than to the practical; ana al
,houyb admitted to be one OF the most brilliant
naval architects In the Navy. he has seen less
sarv,ce in practical work at navy yards than
most members OF his corps This Is In meas
ure due to Hobsons troubles in getting along
with some OF his superiors at naval stations on
oooount NJ his disinclinlt ltion to be subordinated
For n short time ne served at the New-York
NAVY Yard but he and the constructor there
disagreed on some professional point. and Hob
con was ordered to Newport News, and later
bacame involved In controversy with the
sarior constructor which led to his detachment
and assignment to duty In Washington.