Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-03
WILL RECOMMEND REWARD
The President to Take Action on the San
tiago Naval Campaign.
Captains Tell About the Chase aud
Destruction of Cervera's Fleet
Methods of Recognition.

The President has again taken up The
question Of rewarding the naval officers
| who participated in the destruction OF Ger
vera's fleet off Santiago, and his final con-
! oiusions viii be embodied shortly I'm recon-
mendations to Congress, either in The form
| of a renewal of the advancement of Rear
Admiral Sampson and the officers under
| him by numbers, or according TO some
other method.
The Secretary of the Navy in his report
recommended an alternative proposition
legislation on the line of the bill introduced
last spring (Senate bill 5000, which pro
vides for three classes Of medals-oue for
conspicuous conduct in war one for extra
| ordinary heroism and one for general meri-
torious service-the first to carry with It
| a percentage of increase of pay, hased
upon the rank of the recipient, and calcu-
| Ia ted to take the place of the increase
which would be the result of promotion
Were that the form of reward continued.
Either method would contemplate in adai-
ton the thanks Of Congress to the COM
nandCr-in-chief of the North Atlantic
squadron and the officers and men under
his command, as they were given to the
comnandcr-in-chief of the Asiatic squadron
| and the officers and men under his conf
mand.
There also has been suggestion for the
creation Of the grade of vice admiral for
| the benefit OF Rear Admirais Sampson and
Schley.
As a result of the Sampson Schley con-
| troversy the reward of all the subordinate
officers in the North Atlantic squadron
has been blocked up to this time, and it is
the urgent desire of both the President
and Secretary Long that justice be done to
them. and that they obtain the rewards
which they have earned.
Conference With Captains.
Preliminary to a decision upon his cours.
of action, the President and Secretary Long
had consultation yesterday with eight Of
the captains of the North Atlantic squad
ron at the White House. The naval officers
present We're Chadwick of the New York
| Cook of the Brooklyn Clark of the Oregon,
Philip NOW rear admiraD of Tn" Texas
Evans OF the Iowa. Higginson mow rear
admraD of the Massachusetts, Folger OF
the New Orleans and Lieutenant Commau-
der Wainwright of the Gloucester Rear
Admiral Sampson was not present. These
commanding officers were especially invited
by the President, who desired to hear from
their own lips the story of the battle of
Santiago, the general movements and diff
culties of the campaign. including the
cruise OF the lying squadron in search of
CerEera 5 fleet and Their own ideas To
the method of comforting the rewards.
For almost two hours the captains talked
with the President. who manifested keen
interest i'll their personal accounts Of the
stirring events off the south coast of Cuba.
Some of the controverted questions were
gone into at length
Favor Longs Method.
The consensus of opinion Of the naval
officers. as developed at the conference.
| seemed to favor the method Of reward rec
commended by Secretary Long-the confer
ring of medals. which would carry with
them percentage of 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 recipients distinction which would
mark them for future service.
At the same time in some cases il would
work hardship: as. for instance, in the
case of Capt Clark. Despite his heroic SER
vice in bringing the Oregon around the
Horn in such marvellous style and the gal
liant service of the Oregon in the Santiago
light. Capt Clark today is two numbers be-
low his position at the opening of the war.
This is due to the advancement of the Ma
mia captains. whose promotions We're con-
tlrmed by the Senate. Capt Clark at the
conference. however. willing that Sec
rotary Longs plan should be adopted. in
order that justice might be done TO the
others
The President shortly after the recon
vening of Congress. will transmit his rec
concentrations. IT is not improbable that
in doing so he will accompany them by a
special message calling attention to the
grave injustice that has been done to the
commander-in-chief. officers and men of
the North Atlantic squadron in so long
Withholding from them the rewards To
which their gallant service entities them.
Captains at the Navy Department.
The captains of the North Atlantic fleet,
who were summoned to Washington yes
terday to consult with the President re-
specting the policy TO be adopted in the
matter of rewards, called at the Navy De-
partment this morning separately to take
their leave before returning to their posts.
Admiral Philip had already left. but sent a
message of farewell to the officials before
going to New York. Capt. Taylor was
among those present at the White House
meeting yesterday, and remained over un-
til this afternoon before leaving for New
port The officers are still talking among
themselves over what took place at the
White House yesterday. In addition to the
discussion touching upon the propriety of
fesortfnS to medals instead of promotions
for rewards, it is stated by a participant
IN the proceedings that the following con-
illusions were arrived at by the captains,
although IL is not minated how the Pres
fdent received them:
Should BE One Vice Admiral.
There was general unanimity of opin-
ion among the officers that If the grade Of
vice admiral was created there should be
but one and that this should go to the
commander in-cb:ef of the North Atlantic
squadron. who stood In the same relation
to the operations in the Atlantic that
Dewey did to those in the Pacific
There was also general unanimity or
opinion that whore charges Of Ieprehensible
conduct stood on the record against an
officer there should be no such reward FOR
him until he had, or asked for an inquiry,
or until they were expiained-that this
would be injurious TO the service"
Resumes His Official Duties.
Mr.. Warner Stutler, superintendent of the
ole mir