Arizona republican., 1919-12-24
SIMS DECLINES SERVICE MEDAL; SCORES DANIELS AWARD METHOD
Naval Controversy Comes
 as Result of Revise
 of Award List Congress May Probe Reports on Dispute Handed Senate Committee-House
 Also Wants Report
[RepubIican A. p. Leased wirel

WASHINGTON. Dec 23.-Rumblings Of dissatisfaction within the navy at the way Secretary Daniels has ar ranged the awards of decorations for war service, came to the surface today when IL became knowR that Admiral Sims. former commander of American naval forces in European waters, had declined to accept his distinguished service medal, while the awards re- main as at present
 At the same time the row which, up to this time, has been a smouldering one. gave intentions of showing up in congress- Chairman Page of the ken- ate naval committee, asked for a re- port on the awarding of the decora- tions and Secretary Daniels trans mitted one to him tonight.
 Meanwhile Representative Rnfkin of Massachusetts. announced that he would ask the house to call for a similar report.
 Creates New Ssnsation
 Coming as the climax to published charges that Secretary Daniels has re- arranged the whole list of awards, raising some officers to higher distinc- ton than reyommeSded and blue pen cilIing" others. publication of Admiral Sims action created a new sensation In the navy department and added a new chapter to the long contest in which some naval officers have com plained of the secretary's adminietra- ton of affairs and others have de- tended him with equal vigor.
 The whole thing has been brouzh, 10 bead by the action of Admiral Sims, who. writing an official com munfcation to Secretary Daniels. has set out that officers for whom he recommended the distinguished service medal-highest of all naval decorations except the congressional medal of honor-received by the secretary's re- vision a decoration of lesser value, and that other orrIcers whose duties and services Admiral Sims considered as of lesser value, received by the revision the more valued decoration. At the same time, it develops Admiral Sims sent franke6 copies of his letter to many naval officers m Washington. His action became known first through them. and later today MT. Daniels gave put the letter. without comment Earlier in the day, however, Mir Dan- Iels had announced that be had pre- pared the report asked for by Senator Page and tonight, after transmitting 1t to the senator. made public copies of it.
 Admiral Sims. in his letter. does not appear to refuse his decoration un- conditionally. He refused it under the conditions he outlined and he asks for an opportunity 70 explain the reasons for his original recommenda- tions- Besides that. sfe admiral does not ask that the highest award be taken from any officer upon whom n already has been conferred. but he does ask for a revision upward of some of the lesser decorations
 Figures in Many Naval Sensations
 Sims, long known as the Stormy Petrel of the navy, since his sensa- tional Hast drop of blood" speech in the Guild hall at London, when he drew the attention of the foreign officers of Berlin. London and Washington has figured in navy sensations before and has many warm supporters among the officeSs- Secretary Daniels report to Chairman Page of the senate naval committe4. outlines the general policy followed by the secretary In awarding medals and distinctions to naval off cers and enlisted men.
 Indicating that the entire contro- versy that has now come to light re- wolves around the old navy depart ment disagreement as to which class of service-shore oS sea-is most i'm portant. Secretary Daniels in his re- port said:
 The value of duty on snore was duly recognized. but in m~ opinion 1t should be of the highest importance and re- sponsibi1fty in order that this duty should be recognized by the award of the same kind Of medals as that given to officers charged with great respon- sibility and at the same time fin posi- tions of grave danger in the active war zone. and this was the sta andard which arv particular case had to meet for an officer on shore duty to be awarded the medal
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