The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-04-07
MEDALS FOR CALAMITY
The Navy Departments Attitude
Concerning Their BeStoWal.
4 Suggestion whereby the Secretary
May he Authorized to Distribute
the West Indian Squadron Prop
err Appreciation of Their Services.

In Response TO a request from the Senate
Committee on Naval Affairs FOR informa-
ticn concerning the Navy Departments at
titude in regard 10 a joint resolution. re-
Gently presented 20 the Senate, 20 provide
medals for the officers and men OF the
North Atlantic squadron. and especially as
20 the eueagemeuts deemed 10 be q suf-
fcieHt inheritance 10 Justify the bestowal
or medals upon those who participated In
them. Acting Secretary Allen has sent 10
Senator Hale. Chairman Of the Naval Com
mittee the draft q a joint resolution in
tended as a substitute for that unde cOu-
sideratiou by the committee.
In his letter TO Mr.. Hale. Mr.. Alien says
the Navy Department cOncurs IN the view
expressed by Mr.. Hale, that if .s not every
little 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 this
time the particular engagements which are
deserving CT commemorstion. and invites
attention 10 a memorandum OF the Bureau
Of Navigation On the subject The memor-
andum is as follows
The bureau believes that iJ would be
exceedingly difficult TO follow out the
suggestion Of Senator Hale. 10 discrimi-
nate in the sense indicated in thu last
! paragraph Of the within letter The resO-
luton as originally introduced. even with
the amendment 20 be proposed by SenG-
tor MCMILLAN. does not seem 20 follow any
/ particular criterion OF Importance OF en-
gagements included. For instance. it Is
noted that 10 engagements around the
T Island OF Porto Rico are included in the
resolution: none OF the bombardmeuts Of
Santiago are included. and many OF the
minor engagements around the Island OF
. Cuba are omitted. Some Of the foregoing
are Of considerable importance. as. for
/ instance. the engagement OF san Juan
7 where one man was killed and seven
/ Wounded on cur vessels. and the engage
] ment of Santiago. June %. where one was
4 killed and nine we're wounded.
/ Furthermore. although Lieut.. Victor Blue
and Naval Constructor r. p. HObson might
receive medals on account Of their partlcI-
patton in some Of the engagements men,
( toned I'm The resolution. they would not be
4 included as a result OF the work in which
I they most distinguished themselves
Iicu,s. H. H. Ward and V. II. Buck
neither Of whom participated in any er-
gagement. nor served on beard naval YES
sells would not benefit By the resolution
and vet performed war services whiel
should be cons .dered in this connection
. The Department has recommended the ad
Nancemtnt OF Aapl- - y. s'lfsShte- both bA
account Of his conduct at the time IN,
Maine was destroyed and in m engage
/ ment with a torpedo beat GG SGn Juan
! His services should be considered.
The Bureau submits the foregoing
| without specific recommendations in III,
1 instances mentioned, because il believes /
{ to be injudicious to make such special rec
I concentrations. and has TO recommend tina
the resolution be so worded as 10 proyid,
! a campaign medal Cor all those who di,
( naval or military duty in connection Will
the West Indian campaign, or else that i
be so wOrded as to provide a medal 70
the eliminating action Of the campaign o
the battle Of Santiago July 3.
Mr.. Allen says that after due nfidera
ton the Navy Department has concludes
that the better method Of disposing Of tn
matter is by the adoption o. joint resOlu
ton whereby the Secretary Of the Nav,
shall be authorized TO distribute 10 tn
officers and men participating in engage
ments in the waters of the West Indie
and on the shores of Cuba which shal
be deemed OF sufficient importance to meri
such commemoration. In reaching a de