Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-12-25
SIMS REFUSES
SERVICE MEDAL
Former Commander of u. S.
Sea Forces in European Wa
tiers Dissatisfied With Sec.
Daniels Awards
CREATES SENSATION
Senator Page Asks Daniels for Report
on Awarding Decorations-S m
Criticizes Naval Secretnry's Re-nr-
rnngement of List

Washington, Dec. 23.-Rumblings of dis
Secretary Daniels has arranged the
! awards Of decorations for war service
came to the surface to-day when 1t be-
came known that Admiral Sims. former
commander of American naval forces in
European waters. had declined to accept
his distinguished service medal, while the
| awards remain as at present.
At the same time, the row which up to
this time has been smouldering one,
gave indications of showing up In Con-
gress. Chairman Carroll S. Page of the
Senate naval committee asked for re-
port on the awarding of the decorations
and Secretary Daniels transmitted it to
him tonight. Meanwhile Representative
Luflin, republican, of Massachusetts.
member of the House naval committee.
announced that he would ask the House
to call for a similar report.
Coming as the climax to published
J charges that Secretary Daniels had re-
arranged the whole list of awards. raising
some officers to higher distinction than
recommended and blue penciling" 9TH
ers. publication of Admiral Sims action
created a new sensation in the navy de-
partment and added a new chapter to the
GERS have complained of the secretarys
administration Of affairs and others have
defended him with equal vigor.
The whole thing has been brought to
a head by the action of Admiral Sims,
who writing an official communication
to Secretary Daniels from the Naval War
College at Newport r. l.. has set out
that officers for whom he recommended
the distinguished service medal-highest
of all naval decorations except the Con-
gressional medal of honor-received by
the secretary's revision a decoration Of
lesser value, and that other officers whose
duties and services Admiral Sims con-
sidered as of lesser value received. by
the revision, the more valued decoration
At the same time it develops. Admiral
Sims sent franked copies of his letter to
MANY naval officers in Washington. His
action became known first through them,
and later to-day Mr.. Daniels gave out the
letter, without comment. Earlier In the
day however, Mr. Daniels had announced
that he had prepared the report asked
for by Senator Page and tonight after
Transmitting it to the senator made pub
lie copies of it.
| Admiral Sims, in his letter, does not
appear to refuse his decoration uncond-
tionally He refused II under the condi-
tons he outlines and asks for an oppor-
tunity to explain the reasons for his
original recommendations. Besides that,
the admiral does not ask that the highest
award be taken from any officer upon
whom it already has been conferred, but
does ask for revision upward OF some
of the lesser decorations.
Sims, long known as the stormy petrol
Of the navy since his sensational last
drop Of blood speech IN the Guildhall
at London when he drew the attention
of the foreign offices of Berlin London
and Washington, has figured in navy
sensations before and has many warm
supporters among the officers
A recapitulation of the action of the
Knight board and Secretary Daniels or
the 10 recommendations made by Rear
Admiral Sims shows that Of the 10 of
ficers whom the latter recommended
for distinguished service medals. the
r Knight board cut IS of the recommen'
dations to navy crosses. Secretary Dan
iels, after receiving the Knight boarC
report changed the awards OF dis
} tinguished service medals recommend
! ed by the board in three cases to navy
! crosses and in three other cases he re-
; versed the board and awarded dis
tinguished service medals as originally
BY law three classes of decorations
are provided for officers and men OF
the navy as follows The medal o.
honor, awarded by the President in the
name of Congress for conspicuous gal
lantry and intrepidty: the distinguish
ed service medal to be awarded by the
secretary of the navy to any person
who has distinguished himself by ex'
ceptionally meritorious service to the
government. and the navy cross
awarded also by the secretary for ex
traordinary heroism or distinguish
service such heroism OF distinction
not being sufficient to Justify the
award Of a medal OF honor or dis
tinguished service medal.
Secretary Daniels tonight refused
to discuss the Sims letter from any
angle, declaring that the fixed policy
he had established would continue tC
, govern his action.