Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-03
ARMY SERVICE MEDALS
BILL FAVORED BY THE SECRE-
TARY OF WAR.
Estimates That 446, 8S2 Souvenirs
Will Be Required to Distribute to
Participants in Recent Wars.

The Secretary Of War has transmitted to
the chairman Of the House military COM
mittee the draft of a joint resolution au-
thorizing the distribution of medals for
service in the Spanish-American war and
other campaigns. The members Of the 1st
District of Columbia Volunteer Infantry
which took part in the Cuban campaign,
and all other National Guardsmen and
others who participated in that war, in the
fhll1pp1ne instruction or the Boxer riots
IN China, are interested in this bill and are
expected to assist in securing it's enact
ment. In his letter of transmittal Secre-
tary Root explains the purpose and scope
of the bill in the following words:
THE object of this joint resolution is to
give to the army similar medal to that
granted to the navy by joint resolution Of
Congress No. II, approved March 10, 1901
for services on the shores Of Cuba and in
the battle of Santiago. In framing this
joint resolution there is contemplated
separate SCI medal for the Spanish war, the
Philippine insurrection and the China relief
expedition. That there shall be bar for
each of the campaigns of Santiago. Porto
Rico and Manila, properly inscribed and
worn attached to the ribbon Of the medal.
These medals are intended not only for the
of1cers and soldiers, but for any persons
who have been attached to the army and
performed faithful service Herewith.
the United States during the period Of
war would be entitled to the medal Of that
war. Those serving in the separate cam
paigns of war would be entitled to the
distinctive bar of that campaign in addition
to the medal.
THE bill provides also a medal to re-
ward those volunteers and regular soldiers
who performed willing service in the Phil
1Ppines after the war with Spain had ended
in spite of the fact that they were enlisted
only for the term of the Spanish war
President Mckinley, in his dispatch to Gen.
Otis July 1, 1899, promised them a special
these medals what shall be their form.
their material. their cost. Is left to the
President under the proviso that they be
struck and distributed under regulations
to be made by the Secretary Of War.
THE object. of the provision for a dis
tinguished service medal is to reward dis
tinguished services which cannot be re-
Warded with the medal of honor author
lied by act of March 3, 1863. for those
who most distinguished themselves in ac-
ton
THE campaign service medal is found in
other armies to be great aid to discipline
and efficiency. The possesSOr is proud of
1t and breads to disgrace it. 1t distin-
guishes veterans from recruits. 1t costs
the government little, and is valued greatly
by the soldier. 1t is compensation tor the
hardships Of war. 1t adds to the reward
of the soldier and thus facilitates recruit
ing. AS a proof of faithful, patriotic serv-
ices it will be highly priced by all of our
citizen soldiery who underwent the hard
ships of the Spanish-American war.
1T is estimated that 446, $50 medals will
be required to commemorate the services of
the regulars and volunteers who served
during the Spanish-American war, the Phil
ippine Instruction and the campaign for
the relief of Pekin, China. An appropria
ton of 100000 therefore will allow an aver
age expenditure per medal Of about %
cents.
THE question has been considered at
length by a board Of officers, whose con-
illusions to the necessity and proprety
of such medal in our service 1 have ap-
proved. Favorable action this bill is
requested