New-York tribune., 1919-12-28

by suhordnates as is the immediate
commander.
Failure to Appreciate Services"
"5. Leaving aside whatever other
omissions exist, it is desired to EN-
plasze the omission of awards to any
| members OF the staff Of the com
! mander in chief, United States feet.
except ,he award of the navy cross to
the chief of staff
! cate a failure to appreciate the va'u-
able services performed by the staffs
Of the commander in chief and of the
several other fleet forces. An ad-
mlraPs success in a position of great
responsibility is always dependent to
i large extent upon the loyalty. initia-
i've and efficiency Of the members of
his staff.
-. The omission of recognition Of
the value of tha duty performed by
these officers in the planning and
supervision of the training and mil
tary operations of the ieet, due to the
efficacy Of whicn duty the efficient
manning Of transports, cargo and naval
vessels was possible, and by virtue OF
which success upon the sea was as
sured creates the impression that sucE
duty is Of minor Importance and not
20 be considered or compared with
duty such as the command of single
ship.
Ship Only an Element in Fleet
"s. Such an impression would be
fatal to the development Of the navy
as fighting machine The ship is but
an element of the force or fleet which,
without plans for its effective use in
coordinate operations with other yes
se's and t.pss of veasels, is OF little
value
30 In all asmies and in most navies the
importance of staff duty is recognized
by the selection and detail for such
duty Of the most efficient and able
officers ii the service.
40. EMciont staff work is absc-
lutely Indispensable 20 the conduct Of
high command Officers who stand out
precminently in their services to the
fleet. the navy and the country, as did
the officers of my staff whom had the
privilege os recommending for awards.
cannot be considered as less worthy Of
distinction than those officers who had
occasion to display their ability in more
conspicuous employment.
I'll 1t is possible that the value of
the services of many officers of my re-
cent command has been overlooked,
due to he short statement Of facts in
their citation. 1t may be that failed
20 realize that The value OF their
Lerviccs would not be so apparent 10
others as to me, and consequently thuir
citations lacked full emphasis. The
benent and advantages OF their marked
ability were so we'll known to me that
! may have considered them equally we'll
known 10 those who would make the
Ultimate decision as 20 the awards.
Staff Of Vital Importance
"12. wish again to place On recoid
the extremely important and valuable
services rendered by certain members
Of my late staff, whosa names We,
included in my recommo rd4 ions fo4
awards, IN the arrangements made Tor
organizing ana administering she fleet
anu Tor training the personnel to meet
the rapid expansion due to mob liza
ton; In tie development uf efficient
means and improved methods # operat-
ing the fleet. both tactical'y y and strate-
geticaily; sAd in the application to the
operations and administration of the
Meet of the information and expert
nncc gained by them during two tIi:s
OF inspection and Observations through
the theater of operations during which
trips hey were in actual contact with
Il
min.s.ration
'l3 In fact it is the oninion Of many
oncers OF Ugh rcnk t. al the acco.n-
pllshmeEts in regard to improvements
IN the operations and administration
OF the Meet made during the war; which
were SO largely due to the valuable
services of my staff, are Of lasting
Importance and Of the greatest benefit
- the future efficiency of the fleet.
The remarkable development, particu
l&rly IN tactics, has been mentioned in
the recent report Of the Secretary Of
the Navy. i'his development was the re-
suit of the efficient work Of nv staff
IA. The recognition Of officers
services in war forms very important
and valuable part of an officers record.
upon which may Well rest his future
assignment to duty and his selection
to higher rank A review and reco1-
sideratIon Of meritorious cases are
earnestly recommended"
Vice-Admiral Jones Recites Record
lice Admiral Joncss communication
follows:
~. According to the list of awards.
as published in the Army aud Ncyy
Register of December l3. which has
lHst conc to my notice, am to be
awarded the Navy Cross. If this list is
correct, and assume that it is, | de-
sire to bring to the attention of the
department the following:
"2. My services during the war he
gan April r, 1917, and are set forth
below, as follows:
"Commander first squadron, patrol
force@af1oat.
"commander first division, cruiser
force (ruider guard )-afoat.
"Nommander Newport News division,
cruiser and transport force afloat
administrator of io~nor floating
equipment in Eamptoo Roads district.
&. AS commander of the Newport
News division - the cruiser ,.nd trans
pot forces. be- "'.ng April Y. 1913, |
was IN q sea status and exercised the
unctlons of the senior officer present
aiioat for all cruisers and foreign men,
of-war entering Hampton Roads. in ac-
cordance with the orders Of the com
manoer IN chief Atlantic fleet As
such senior officer present ahoat. il