SEQUELA TO THE LATE WAR.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 77, 28 September 1898, Page 6

SEQUELA TO THE LATE WAR.

RUCTIONS OVER THE AWARD OF HONOURS. THE AMERICAN PACIFIC CABLE SCHEME. j_PER R.M.S. MOANA AT AUCKLAND.] [BY TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] San Francisco, 7th September. There is much stir in this country about the awarding of honours arising from the lato war. In the first place Admiral Sampson, then Captain, was given cqmmaud of the Atlantic Squadron over the head of his superior officer, Commodore Schley, and; later, the Battle of Santiago was fought under Commodore Schley, with Admiral Sampson 10 miles away. Despite Admiral Sampson's misfortune he received the thanks of the officials, and was accorded all the honours and emoluments due to the commander of a victorious squadron. A large number of. officers were given promotion for " distinguished conduct in battle." But so indiscriminately were the honours conferred that those who were not in action were placed higher on the list than those who were, aud some heroes of the Manila fight actually lost their numbers on the list through being overlooked from lack of an official " pull." Through such mistakes the Administration bids fair to lose the prestige confidently counted upon as one of the results of the war. It is proposed that the American Pacific cable shall touch at Honolulu and one of the Caroline Islands, and go thence to Guam, in the Ladrones, with spurs running to Manila and Yokohama. A duplicate system will include Sitka and a point in the Aleutian Islands. The plan involves the laying of 10,000 miles of cable and thß expenditure of 10,000,000 dollars. The Naval Board of Experts will recommend the speedy construction of 15 warsiiips. Six vessels are to be heavily armoured battleships, six small protected cruisers, and three midway between the two extremes.