Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-28
MEDALS FOR SOLDIERS OF SPANISH WAR

Secretary or war ho,l Is leitiie ~
his plans and suggestions to improve
our army and to encourage patrlotic
impulses among its members. A num-
Der of the reforms that have recently
been made are the resul. of his urgent
efforts. Now it is said he will ask con-
gress to authorize medals for all Off
GERS and enlisted men who served IN
the war with Spain. In the Philippine
Iinsurrection and in the relief eNpedi-
tion 10 Pakin. 1t is the belief of the
secretary of war that the army should
receive some mark of government APP
preciation similar to that already
granted to the navy. These new med
ais will be of three Gasses-service
medals, patriotic service medals and
distinguished service medals. The
service medals will be presented to
every soldier who served in the Spanish
war Tentative devices, showing either
the bay OF Santiago, with San Juan Hill
in the foreground, or 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 showing the Spanish colors. The
medals will BIO Of silver.
The patriotic service medals are in
tended for volunteers who enlisted for
the war, but remained in the Philip
pines after the close of the war in re-
Spouse to the appeal of the government.
The late President Mckinley, in a letter
to General Otis, promised these medals
to the men who served beyond the Pc
Rod for which they enlisted. and Secre-
tary Root is determined to keep that
promise These will also have q red and
yellow ribbon, but will show native
hut with palm trees, symbolic OF the
Philippines.
The veterans OF the Chinese expedi-
ton will also receive medals, but the
design on these will be either dragon,
presentation of the gate by which
the American soldiers entered Pekin, or
q design showing the gate of the For
hidden City. These medals will be hung
on purpls and yellow ribbons.
The distinguished service medals are
intended for soldiers who rendered I'M
usual and gallant service. but are not
entitled to medal of honor This cam
only be conferred for bravery on the
is manifestly unfair that men who per-
formed dangerous service. such as Cap
tain Rowan, whose hazardous missions
i'tc secure information ere unrewarded.
should be neglected. Similarly. men
who volunteered to go into yellow fever
hospitals and nurse the sick are not ell
gible for the medal of nonor. To cover
all the many cases of ga'lantry not per-
formed under fire. but no less deserving
of reward, this new medal has been
suggested Concerning these medals
Secretary Root said recently:
| Campaign service finds reward in
other armies. 1t is of great value in its
contribution to the discipline and it
distinguishes the veteran from the re-
cruit Such recognition costs the
government little, but will be valued
highly by the soldiers. The present
scheme calls for 446.Ss2 medals, costing,
| in rough estimate. 100000, or % cents
apiece. 1t is the only recognition we
are giving of service, of suffering and
death, and so far as ! knew there is no
one who opposes it"
1t is to be hoped that congress will
authorize these medals for the encour-
aging effect they will have on future
enlistments.