Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-02
VETS MAY GET MEDALS.
Soldiers of Spanish-American War t
Be Given Token by Government.

Ottumwa boys who served in the
army OF the United States during the
Spanish, Philippine or Chinese cam
paigns will likely be presented with
medals of honor by the government i
the scheme now being wrought out by
Secretary Root of the war department
meets with the approval OF congress,
There are a number of Ottumwans
who were with the army in Cuba. some
were in the Philippines during the in
surrection and otherwise in the regi-
ments ordered to the celestial nation
to assist in quelling the Boxer upris-
ing.
According to adyices from Washing
ton Mr.. Root will ask for medals for
| all officers and enlisted men who serv
ed in the war with Spain, in the Phil:
ippine insurrection and in the relief
expedition 10 PelSin. 1t is the belief
of the secretary of war that the army
should receive some mark of govern
ment appreciation similar to that al
ready granted to the navy. These
new medal will be of three classes
service medals, patriotic service med
ais and distinguished service medals.
| The service medals will be presenter
| to every soldier who served in the
Spanish war. Tentative devices, show
I ing either the bay of Santiago, with
San Juan hill in the foreground. o.
J views from Porto Rico or Manila. have
been drawn, and will probably be
adopted to show the particular service
of the soldiers. These will be hung
on red and yellow ribbons, thus show.
ing the Spanish colors. The medals
will be of silver.
The patriotic service medals are in
tended for volunteers who enlisted foi
the war, but remained in the Philip
pines after the close of the war in re
: spouse to the appeal of the govern
/. ment. The late President Mckinley
in letter to General Otis. promised
these medals to the men who served
beyond the rariod for which they en-
listed. and Secretary Root is deter
mined to keep that promise. These
i will also have red and yellow ribbon
but they will show a native hut witt
palm trees, symbolic of the Philip
pines.
The veterans of the Chinese expedi
ton will also receive medals. but thC
design on those will be either a dragon
a representation of the gate by which
the American soldiers entered Pekin
or a design showing the gate of thu
Forbidden City. These medals will b.
hung on purple and yellow ribbons.
The distinguished service medal!
are intended for soldiers who render
ed unusual and gallant service, but arr
not entitled to q medal of honor. This
!, can only be conferred for bravery OF
the battlefield. Secretary Root feels
that it is manifestly unfair that meI
who performed dangerous service
such as Captain Rowan, whose hazard
Gus missions to secure information ar
unrewarded, should be neglected
Similarly men who volunteered to g
into yellow fever hospitals and nurs
the. sick are not eligible for the media
! of honor. To cover all the many case
I of gallantry not performed under fire
but no less deserving of reward, thi
new medal has been suggested. Cor
$ corning these medals Secretary Roo
. said recently:
I Campaign service finds reward i
S other armies. 1t is of great value i
$ its contribution to the discipline an
7 lit distinguishes the veteran from. tn
d recruit. Such a recognition costs tn
g government little. but will be value
highly by the soldiers. The preser
I scheme calls for 446.SS2 medals, cos
II ing, in rough estimate, 100000, or
5 cents apiece. 1t is the only reeogn
q ton we are giving of service, of sll
z fering and death. and so far as ! kno
< there is no one who opposes it,