The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-01-11
OFFICERS REWARDED
How The Naval Heroes are 10 be
l!OnoTed.
GIVING OF MEDALS PREFERRED.
Eight of the Captains Who Were In
the Santiago Battle Detail the Incl.
dents to the President and Secretary
of War,

Washington, ID. c., Special. The
President has again taken up the uues-
tion c; rewarding tie naval officers
who participated in the destruction Of
Cervera's fleet, off Santiago, and his
final conclusions will b. embodied
shortly in recommendations to Con-
grcss, either in the form of a renewal
Of the advancement OF Rear Admiral
Sampson and the officers under him by
numbers, with perhaps some modifi-
cations-the scheme which the Senate
refused to mtify last spring-accord-
Ing to some ether method.
The Secretary of the navy, in his re-
port, recommended as an alternative
proposition, legislation on the line of
the Dill introduced last spring, which
which provides for three classes of
medals-one for the conspicuous con-
duct in war; ere for extraordinary he
To:sm and one for general me-itorous
servlCe--thc first to carry with it 4
percentage of increase Of pay, based
upon the rank OF the recipient and cal
culated to take tho place of the in
promotion We're that form OF reward
continued. Either method would con-
template in addition the thanks Of Con-
gress to the commalder-in-c chief of the
North Atlantic sqLadron and the Off
GERS and men under his command as
they were given to the Commander-in-
chef of the Asiatlc squadron and the
officers anG men under his command.
There also has been suggestion for
the creation OF the grade of vice ad-
miral for the benefit of Rear Admirals
the Sampson and Schley controversy
the reward Of all the subordinate Of
ficers in the North Atlantic squadron
has been blocked up to this time and It
is the urgent desire Of both the PI esl-
dent and Secretary Long that Justice
he done them and that they obtain the
rewards which they have earned.
Preliminary to decision upon his
course of action, the President and Sec
retary Long had a consultation with
eight OF the Santiago captains at the
White House. The naval officers pres
ent were Chadwick. OF the New York
Cook, of tho Brooklyn: Clark, of the
oregon; Philip, (nOw rear admiraD. CT
the Texas; Evans, Of the Iowa; Hig-
ginsOn (nOw rear admiraD, OF the Mas
:achusetts; Folger, of the New Crleano,
and Lieutenant Commander Vain
wright, of the Gloucester. Rear Ad-
miral Sampson was not present. These
commanding officers were especially
Invited by the President who desired to
hear from their own lips the story CT
the battle Of Santiago, the general
movements and difficulties OF the cam
paign including the cruise of the flying
squadron in search OF Cervera's fleet
and their own ideas as to the method
Of comforting rewards. For almost
TWO hours the captains talked with the
Fres dent, who manifested keen in
tereSt in their personal accounts Of the
stirring events Off the south coast OF
Cuba. Some OF the c0ntrCverte1 ques-
tions were gone into at length.
The concensus OF opinion OF the
naval officers as developed at the con-
terence, seemed to favor the method OF
reward recommended by Secretary
Long-conferring OF medals which
would carry with them percentage CT
Increase of pay, in lieu OF advancement
by numbers. This would compensate
for actual promotion, both by giving
increased pay and by giving to the re-
c!pients distinction which would mark
them for future service. At the same
time in some cases it would work hard
ship; as. for instance, in the case CT
Captain Clark. Despite his heroic SER
vice in bringing the Oregon around the
Horn In such marvellous style, and the
gallant service OF the Oregon in the
Santiago fight, Captain Clark to- day Is
two numbers below his position at tho
opening of the war. This is due TO the
Advancement OF the Manila captains