Omaha daily bee., 1919-12-27
Daniels Takes Action Follow
ing Refusal of Two More Of
ficers to Accept Medals for
VaIor He Recommended.
ADMIRAL AND CAPTAIN
LATEST RECALCITRANTS
"Number Of Cases Requiring
Further Examination" ," Sec
retary Says in Ordering
Board to Reconvene Jan. 5.

= Washington, Dec. 26,-Secretary
Daniels tonight ordered the Navy
departments board of awards re-
convened Monday, January 5, to re-
wise the recent recommendations as
TO naval awards. which have been
the sourc, Of a controversy brought
10 head few days ago By declin-
alton of Admiral Sims to accept the
distinguished service medal. while
the awards remained as at present.
The osdci to reconvene the board
wss made public tonight following
receipt Of reports from Newport, R.
l., that Vice Admiral Hilery P.
Jones and Capt. Raymond D. Has
brouck had followed Admiral Sims
il refusing to accept the medals be-
slowed OF them. disagreeifig with
the policy determining the officers
to be rewarded, for services during
the war. Secretary Daniels, it was
said at the Army department, how
ever, had received no information as
to the declination of Captain Has
brouck or the reported declination Of
Admiral Jones.
Further Examination Required.
The secretary's order to reccnvene
the board addressed to Rear Ad-
,niral A. NJ, Knight, chairman, toll
lows:
'"While approving in the rain the
recommendations of the board OF
awards, my examination into the.
subject ha., convinced me that there
are number of cases requiring fur
ther examination and there have
been additional lamentations
since your board adjourned which
require examination. by beard OF
officers.
Il felt in going over the list that
the board had been too liberal, par
ticularly as regarded officers whose
duty during the war was mainly or
altogether on shore. | felt that re-
ports, some of which had not come
to your board, particularly as to
men who had served and suffered III
the war zone, justified additional
awards
All Lists Tentative.
"No official approval of my list
has been made. All lists published
were tentative. Last week, or
dered changes made in the list as
printed awarding the distinguished
service medal, among Others, to Ad-
miral Knight Caperton, and Vice
Admiral Jones. | had also decided
that like awards should be given to
certain other officers, who had rem
dered long and arduous service on
conveys and other service ahoat in
the war zone.
Il feel that nothing should be
left undone as far as is humanely
possible to insure that the awards
shall be made without the possible
suggestion of injustice or discrimin-
alton against any person in the
naval service and | have therefore
decided to reconvene the board of
awards to reconsider the whole sub
ject in the light of the additional in
formation recently sent to the bu-
reau Of navigation and such other
as any person in the
naval service may wish to lay be-
fore the board.
"The board will therefore meet in
Washington on Monday. January S,
1920"
Hasbrouck Confirms Report.
Philadelphia, Dec. 26.--Capt. Ray
mond Hasbrouck, commander of the
battleship Minnesota, tonight con-
hrmed the report that he had de-
clined to accept the navy cross
awarded him by the Navy depart
ment. He said he thoroughly con-
Cured" in the views of Rear Ad-
miral Sims contained in his recent
letter to Secretary ofthe Navy Dan
iels that no special award should be
given to officers whose ships were
attacked by German
submarines, though no special blame
should be attached to commanding
officers for their failure.
~ IN