Show I I REWARDING BRAVE MEN r Secretary Long Writes a Letter I Let-ter on the Subject I VIEWS OF NAVAL BUREAU I Document Addressed to the Chairmen Chair-men of Naval Committees of House and Senate and Suggests Method of Rewarding the Naval Officers who Participated in the Battle in Which Cervcras Fleet was Destroyed De-stroyed at Santiago System Now in Vogue Found Unsatisfactory Washington Jan GSecretary Long has addressed tho following letter to I the t chairman of Naval Affairs of the Senate and House embodying the departments de-partments latest views us to the mollod of rewarding raval ofllocrs who participated In the destruction of Ccr veras fleet off Santiago SlrThe department has the honor to suggest that the present system of I rcwardlnS ohlI ers of the navy and marine I ma-rine corps for eminent and conspicuous conduct in battle and extraordinary heroism umer the provisions respectively respec-tively of sections 1506 and 1605 of the Revised Statutes has been found to be I unsatisfactory since in its impractical application It operates unjustly ali in some Instances defeats the purpose for which it wag devised At the present time some officers who rendered distinguished services during the war with Spain have in recognition rec-ognition thereof been advanced upon the list others remain without reward re-ward of any kind I while others still by tit curious operation of the existing system find themselves In lower relative rela-tive positions than they occupied before be-fore tho war of 183S in which they so iralljiiil Iv nail Itrlnmod gala nl 11 DltNl An illustration of the objectionable operation of the present method of rewards I re-wards le afforded by L the case of Cnpl Charles E Clark IT S N who commanded com-manded the Oregon during the memorable memor-able run of that vessel from the Pacific to the Atlantic waters and at the battle bat-tle of Santiago and yet owing to the promotion over him of Capts Grid ley Coghlan and Dyer for their eminent and conspicuous conduct In the battle of Manila bay Is today two numbers and If dipt Grldley had survived would be three numbers lower on the list than if I the war had never occuircd The vigilance prudence and capaci ty unremitting and sustained wisely meeting as they successively arise the countless details of the management of < battleship establishing and maintaining main-taining the morale essential to good I work and bringing the vessel 1 Into ef fective action at a critIcal time are qualities which entitle an olliccr to share in reuurds if any are given for distinguished naval service These qualities are exhibited In a high degree by the officers participating in the battle bat-tle of Manila who have been rewarded by advancement on the navy list They were also exhibited by other officers particularly those who so conspicuously and meritoriously participated in the battle o Santiago and yet have not in any wa been way icwarded i Where olllcei have bravely and I with I zealous patriotism I acquitted I themselves In difllcult circumstances with uniform success oji analytical comparison of their respective achievements achieve-ments Is I practically Impossible since all the varied circumstances of the several cases can hardly be taken Into full and accurate account I Is I however deemed to be the duty of the department depart-ment to bring to the attention with the recommendation that early action betaken be-taken by Congress the matter of the general question of the Inadequacy of the present system of rewards and to request that remedy Is to be fixed In the provisions of certain measures now before Congress One of these that is Senate bill 330 Fiftysixth Congress first session provides pro-vides that the advancement of the rank of olllcers of the navy and marine corps fotar service shall not interfere with the regular promotion of officers otherwise other-wise I entitled thereto This measure is similar to Senate bill GOOG Fiftyfifth Congress third session which was ap proved by the department and which Inn I-nn Informed already passed the Senate at Its present session and if enacted into law will in the case above riled for example have the effect of reslor hag to the officer concerned the numbers lost by advancements heretofore made under the present system The other of these is bill S5005 FIfty flfth Congress third session providing for suitable rewards for officers and men of the navy and marine corps for exceptional and meritorious service In the line of duty This measure Is I believed be-lieved to afford a satisfactory substitute substi-tute for the present method of rewards I would enable the department to confer upon the officers above referred to that the medal thoreln designated as the honor medal with Its attendant advantages ad-vantages and benefits and would It is thought provide cqullablc recognition I In the case of other officers of the nay entitled thereto by Ieason of cxccu I tlonal service In the line of duty In consideration of the importance of this general question the department urgently requests that It may receive such early attention of the committee as Its convenience will suggest Very respectfully JOHN D LONG Secretary |