The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-04-08
MEDALS FOR NAvAL SERVICE.


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WASHINGTON, April 6 - In response to a 70
quest from the Senate Committee on Naval Affairs
for information concerning the Navy Departments
attitude In regard 10 q Joint resolution, recently
presented TO the Senate, TO provide medals for the
officers and men Of the North Atlantic squadron
and especially as to the engagements deemed "a
be Of s~ufrcient importance TO Justify the bestowal
Of medals upon those who participated In them.
Acting Secretary OF the Navy Allen has sent
Senator Hale, chairman Of the Naval Committee.
the draft of a Joint resol ution intended as a substi.
tute for that under consideration by the committee,
In his letter to Nj. Hale, Mr. Allen says the Navy
Department concurs in the view expressed by Mr..
Hale, that II is not every little affair in the West
Indian e,amrSign that would Justify The giving
ment would have difficulty in Specifying at this time
the particular engagements which are deserving
q commemoration, and invites attention 10 q mem
orandum Of the Bureau OF Navigation on the sub
iect The memorandum is.
The bureau believes that il would be exceed
ingly difficult 10 follow out the suggestion OF Sena-
TOR Hale 10 discriminate In the SENSE indicated
In the last Paragraph Of the letter The resolu-
ton as originally introduced. even with the amend
ment 10 be proposed by Senator Mcmillan, does
not seem 10 follow any particular criterion II i'm
portanoe ct engagements included, for instance,
il is noted that no engagements around the island
Of Puerto Rico are included IN the resol ution,
none 81 the bomhardmsnts VI Santiago Is in
cluded, and many u the minor engagements
around he island Of Cuba are omitted. Some OF
the foregoing are Of considerable importance, as,
for instance, the engagement Of San Juan where
one man was killed and seven wounded on our
vessels, and the engagements on Santiago. June
26, where one man Was killed and nine were
wounded. Furthermore. although Victor Blue
and Naval Constructor r. !. Hohson might receive
medals on account uf their participation in some
Of the engagements mentioned In The resolution
they would not b. included as a result Of the work
in which they nust distinguished themselves,
Iieuts. Ii. II. Ward and " H. Buck. neither
Of whom participated In any engagement nor
served on board naval vessels. would not benefit
by the resolution, and yet performed war service
which should be considered in this connection
The Department has the advance
ment Of Capt {. ID Sigsbee, both on account Of
his conduct at the time the Maine was destroyed
and in the eng' cement with a torpedo boat. OIL
San Juan. His services should be considered.
The Bureau submits the foregoing without
specific recommendation in the instances men
toned, because II believes |, 10 be iniudicious
10 make such special recommended ons and has
IN recommend that the resolution he SO worded
as 10 provide a campaign medal for all those who
did naval or military duty In connection with the
W M's st l pyavia. e% q %.asI for or \Ig r 'hi1 i be so T ,c,isa
Of the campaign Of the battSof Santiago. July 3"
Mr.. Allen says that after due consideration
the Navy Department has concluded that tho
better method Of diSpoSing Of the matter IL by
the adoption Of q Joint resolutiap whereby the
Secretary u the Navy shall be authorized 10 dis
tribute "a Tire UliCers and men participating In
engagements in the waters Of the West Indies
and on the shores Of Cuba, who shall he deemed
Of sufficient importance 10 merit such commence
ration. In reaching a decrmin nation the Secre-
nry. he says, can avail himself Of the services
OF a board TO examine all the official reports on
tie subject
The draf, OF the substitute resolution submitted
IL sufficiently broad 10 embrace all engagements
Of importance ~ well as 10 rev ard the special
serS ices Of officers rendered otherwise than in
battle, and by the presentation Of a bronze bar
instead ~ a second medal 10 those who have par
tiCinaicd in more than one engagement, and I'M
necessary duplication II medals Is prevented
The resolution submitted Is not intended as a
substitute for the bill 10 carry into effect Secretary
Longs recommends lions for p~ruyi!ing a ncw
system Of rewarding Navy and Marine Corps Off
GERS and men Tor exceptional nci,oriouS service
In war ana peace. The bill Ia carry out Secretary
Longs recommendations provides that instead
Of advancing officers for distinguished service,
officers and men shall be rewarded by the bestov al
on them of honor medals. courage medals and
service medals, the recipients Of honor medals
TO have increased pay.