The evening times., 1900-04-07
MEDALS FOR GALLAN4RY
The Navy Departments Attitude
Concerning Their BestCwal.
Suggestion Whereby the secretary
,Iny he Authorized to Distribute
TO Neritorious Officers ana wen Oh
the West Indian Squadron Prop
err Appreciation of Their services

In response TO request from the Senate
Committee on Naval Affairs, for informa-
ticn concerning the Navy Departments at
titude in regard to a joint resolution, re-
Gently presented 10 the Senate, 10 provide
medals for the officers and men OF the
North Atlantic squadron. and especially as
10 the engagements deemed to be Of suf-
iciept Importance TO justify the bestowal
Of medals upon those who participated III
them. Acting Secretary Allen has sent to
Senator Hale. Chairman Of the Naval Com
mittee. the draft OF a joint resolution IN
tended as a substitute for that under con-
sideration by the committee.
In his letter to Mr.. Hale. Mr.. Allen says
the Navy Department concurs IN the view
EXPRESSED by Mr. Hale. that II is not every
lille affair in the West Indian campaign
that would justify the giving OF medals.
He saws. however, that the Department
would have difficulty in specifying at TINS
time the particular engagements which are
deserving of commemora ton, and invites
attention TO a memora61dm OF the bureau
of Navigation en- the subject. Ihe meinor-
andum is as follows:
THE bureau believes that il would be
exceedingly difficult 10 follow out the
suggestion of Senator Hale. to discriml-
uate in the sense indicated in the last
paragraph Of the within letter. The resO-
Iution as originally introduced. even with
the amendment TO be proposed by Sena-
for Mcmillan does not seem TO follow any
particular criterion Of Importance OF en-
gagements included For instance. 1t Is
noted that no engagements around the
Island of Porto Rico are included IN the
resolution: none of the bombardments OF
inr cd
minor engagements around the Island OF
C,iba 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
wnunded On cur vessels. and the engage
ment off Santiago. June &c. where one was
killed and nine were wounded
Furthermore, although Lieut. Victor bIue
and Naval Constructor K. P. Hobson might
receive medals on account OF their parucl-
nation in some Of the eng8g 8gements mem
toned in the resolution. they would not be
included as a result Of the work in which
tbev most distin guisbed themselves.
Iieuts H. H. Ward and w H. Buck.
neither of whom participated in any en-
gagement nor served on beard naval yes
sells would not benefit by the resolution,
and vet performed war services which
should be considered in this connection
The DEPARTMENT mas recommended tue du-
vancement of Capt c. d. Sigsbee. both on
account OF his conduct at the time the
Maine was destroyed and in the engage
ment with a torpedo beat off San Juan.
His services should be considered.
The Bureau submits the foregoing
without specific recommendations in the
instances mentioned, because it believes II
to be iniudicious to make such special rec
concentrations. and has to recommend that
the resolution be so worded as TO provide
a campaign medal for all those who did
naval or military duty in connection with
the West Indian campaign or else that il
be so worded as to provide medal for
| the eliminating action of the campaign oi
| the battle of Santiago July 3.
Mr. Allen says that after due con,idera-
| ton the Navy Department has concluded
! that the better method of disposing OF the
matter is by the adoption of joint resolu'
| tion whereby the Secretary of the Navy
| shall be authorized TO distribute to the
I officers and men participating in engage
ments in the waters of the West Indies
! and on the shores of Cuba which shal
| be deemed of sufficient Importance to merl
| such commemoration. In reaching de.