Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-12-23

not hdd tlne To read the commun!-
cation carefully.
when the list of recommends
tions and awards is made pubnc."
said Mir. Daniels In referring to the
report to be sent to Senator Page,
Il have no doubt the American peo-
pie will approve the principle fol-
lowed and the application of that
principle"
Mr. Daniels added that the list of
awards already made public was in
no way final; that additions uu-
doubtedly would be made. rs more
recent recommendation were taken
up for Considei alton, and 1t was not
impossible that some names might
be removed from the published list.
Last week | received "A letter
from the Hon. G. 5. Page. chairman
of the naval affairs committee of
the Senate" Mr. Daniels said, re-
Qucsting copy of the so-called
knight Board recommendations of
awards.
Il called up Senator Pages office
and informed the secretary of his
committee that data was being con
lected. and as soon as it was really |
would be pleased to furnish it to
him.
DIRECTIONS have been given to
following informaeion:
Il - All recommendations for
awards by admirals, captains and
other commanding officers.
"2-The action of the board upon
all such recommendations and its
complete report.
"S-Action taken by the depart
ment.
AS soon as this data is ready
cit must he collected literally from
ANS of recommendations)- will
be sent to Senator PaEe and given
to the public"
The board of awards did not ac-
cept all of the recommendations OF
the commanding officers. The Sec
retarv did not accept all the recon-
mendation of the board. He added
names of officers and enlisted men
who had performed conspicuous <er-
vice The only way that fair-mind-
ed mon can Judge the wisdom of the
wards SO far announced will be to
compare the lists
After every war there are, OF
course. differences of opinion as TO
the award of distinctions | remem-
ber the criticisms that were voiced
in the Spanish-Am american war. After
the landing at Vera Cruz, many
tneudlS NtIt ttNdlbths 81 IAtAhN AN
fact. that the statement was often
made that no distinction was made
between distinguished and ordinary
service. At that time | approved
without change the fecommenda-
tionS submitted to me. 1t became
my duty. at the close of this war, i'm
posed by act of Congress, to approve
the awarding of medals and distinc-
tions. and l resolved that action
should be governed by fixed princi-
pies and all in certain classes should
he recognized alike. l was also re-
solved that the most distinguished
honors should be awarded those who
were in most peril and who suffered
most and rendered the most distin-
guished service. The awards so far
announced followed this sound
policy. The final and complete list
has not heen approved for some rec
concentrations We're long delayed
Representative Lufkin, Republi-
can. Massachusetts. n member of the
House naval committee, announced
to-day that when Congress reconVen-
ed he would introduce Il resolution
calling on the Navy Department for
a report on changes made by Sec
rotary Daniels in the recommended
tions for awarding naval decorations.
The resolution will ask for the
changes made by the Secretary and
reasons for this arbitrary action"
said Representative Lufkin. II had
hoped that this whole agitation was
the result of disappointment of one
or two officers who had failed of
recognition, coupled with. the de-
sire of certain newspapers to stir up
trouble. l am convinced, however,
that the matter is more far reach
ing.