The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1900-01-05

don't has again taken up tho ques-
tion Of rcwarlling tho naval officers
who participated in tho destruction
Of Ccrvcra's fleet off Santiago, and
his final conclusions will be embodied
shortly in recommendations to Con
gress, other in tho form Of Il renew
al Of tho advancement Of Rear Ad-
miral Sampson and the officers under
him by numbers, with perhaps some
modiiications-tho scheme which the
Senate refused to ratify last spring
-or according to some othor method.
The Secretary Of tho Navy in his
report recommended rs an altcrna
tive proposition Legislation on the
limo Of tho bill introduced last spring,
which provides for thrrc cnsscs Of
mcdals-onc for conspicuous conduct
in war, ono extraordinary hcroism
and one for general mnrturious ser.
vico-the first to carry with it per
contago Of increase Of pay, based
upon tho rank Of tho recipient and
calculated to take tho place Of the
increase which would be tho result of
promotion were that the form Of ro-
ward. Either method would con,
template in addition tho thanks Of
Congress- to tho commander in chiei
Of tho North Atlantic squadron and
the officers and men under his com.
mand, as they wcro givon to the
commandcr,in chief Of tho Asiatic
squadron and tho officers and men
under his command. There also has
boon suggestion for tho creation Of
tho grade Of vico admiral, for tho
benefit Of Rear Admirals Simpson
and Schloy. Asa result of tho Snmp.
son -Schloy controversy tho reward of
all the subordinate officers in tho
North Atlantic squadron has boon
blocked up to this time, and it is
tho urgont desire Of both tho Presi-
don't and Secretary Long that JUS
tico be dono thom, and that they OBJ
tain tho rewards which thoy have
earned.
Preliminary to decision upon his
course Of action tho President and
Secretary Long today had Il consulta
ton with eight Of tho Santiago cap
tnins at the White House. The ma
val oilicors present were: Chadwick,
Of tho Now York; Cook, of tho Brook
lyn; Clark, Of the Orcgon; Philip,
(now roar admiral,) Of tho Texas;
Evans, Of tho Iowa; Higginson, (now
roar admiral,) Of tho Massachusetts;
Folger, Of tho Now Orleans, and
Lieutenant Commander Wainwright,
Of tho Gloucester. Rear Admiral
Sampson was not present These
commanding officers were especially
invited by tho Prosldont, who de-
sired to hear from thoir own lips tho
story Of tho battle Of Santiago, tho
general movements and ditlicultios
Of the campaign, including the
cruise of the flying squadron in
search Of Cervera's fleet, and their
own ideas as to tho method of con
forring tho rewards. For almost two
hours the captains talked with the
President, who manifested keon in.
torost in their personal accounts of
tho stirring events off tho south coast
OF Cuba. Some Of tho controverted
questions were gone into at longth.
The consensus Of the opinion of the
naval officers, as developed at the
conference, seemed to favor the
method Of reward recommended by
Secretary Long--tho comforting of
medals which would carry with thom
percentage of increase of pay in
lou of advancement by numbers.
This would compensate for actual
promotion by giving increased pay
and by giving to the recipionts dis.
tinction which would mark them for
future service. At the Same time in
some cases it would work hardship;
as, for instance, in tho case Of Capt.
CLARK. Despite his heroic service in
bringing the Oregon around the
Horn in suoh marvellous style and
the gallant service OF the Oregon in
the Santiago fight, Capt. Clark to-
day is two numbers below his posi-
tion at the opening of the war. This