The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-12-27
|etary Daniels Orders Re-
(cnvening Of Knight
Board.
RECONSIDER DATA
|ificant Action Coming on
Heels Of Admiral Sims
Disclosures.

shington, Dec. 27.-(A. P.)-Co-
pnt with. announcements that
prominent naval officers would
le medals which were to have
presented to them by the navy
tment. Secretary Daniels an
ced last night that he had or
the Knight board reconvened
consider data bearing on recent
is. The action, following closely
the disclosures of Rear Admiral
commander of American naval
In European waters during the
that under present conditions"
Fould decline the distinguished
ce medal he was recommended
eemed to forecast a general re-
p of the navy's honors for war
service.
Consider Sims Views.
revising the lists OF naval dec
ops to be awarded officers for
SERVICES during the war, the
mt board, Secretary Daniels said
Y, will be instructed to follow in
raj the same policy adopted by
ecretary in revising the original
the same time, Mr.. Daniels said,
board would give full considera-
to the views expressed by Rear
iral Sims and other high officers
have objected to the manner in
h the decorations thus far an
iced were awarded.
be secretary added that he hoped
new recommendations of the
ID could be approved by him
out amendment. The revised re-
either will be sent to President
ION for final action or acted upon
the secretary on behalf of the
ident.
discussing his order of last
ht reconvening the board to re-
y the cases already considered
act upon additional recon-
Adations made recently, Mr.. Dam
n disclosed that Admiral Henry b.
son and Rear Admiral Henry T.
vo had written him calling atten-
! to what they described as in
Iahties In the awards recently an
1nced.
kdmiral Wilson now commands the
|Rntic feet and was in charge of
)erican naval forces in French
ters during the war. Admiral
3yo commanded the Atlantic feet
ling the war and is now a member
the navy general board,
rhe officers reported to have fol-
Fed Rear Admiral Sims lead were
ce- Admiral Hillary P. Jones, COM
bnder of squadron two of the At
tic feet, with the battleship Con-
cticut as his flagship, and Capt.
lymond d. Hasbrouck. command
I officer of the predreadnought
ttleship Minnesota. Capt. Bas-
puck, confirming advices from
,wport, r. l., to the effect that he
d decided to take his stand with
ar Admiral Sims, said that he
thoroughly concWred" with the
ew of his brother officer that Off
RS who lost their ships should not
decorated and declared that, there
re, having lost a ship himself dur
g the war, he could not consist
tly accept the navy cross for which
t. was recommended. Vice-Admiral
mes was recommended for the dis
iguished service medal.
Revised Report Will Pass.
Thef revised report on naval deco
tions to be made by the Knight
,ard, after survey of all the facts
obably will be accepted, Secretary
aniels said today. The secretary
lded that he either would forward
o report to the president or act fol
e president in accepting it.
Mayo and Wilson Approve.
Mr.. Daniels disclosed that he had
ceived letters from Admiral Henry
Wilson, present commander Of the
.lantic fleet. and formerly COM
ander at Brest, and Rear Admiral
enry T. Mayo, who commanded the
,lantic feet during the war, sup
'rting the position taken by. Rear
lmiral Sims and other officers with
gard to the decorations. The let
RS called attention to certain in
ualities in the published list apo
that a review of par
,ular cases be made.
Text Of Daniels Order.
The secretaryss order to reconvene
e board, addressed to Rear Admira
M. knight, chairman, follows:
"While approving in the main the
of the board Of
Yards, my examination into the
Ibject has convinced me that there
ca number of cases requiring fur
er examination and there have
en additional recommendations
nee, your board adjourned which
quireS examination by a board o.
fcers.
II felt in going over the list tha'
e board had been too liberal, par
c,Narly as regarded officers whose
~ during the war was mainly OF
tigether on shore. l felt that re-
,rts, some of which had not come
-FOUR board, particularly who hat
d yed and suffered in the war zone
jerved additional awards.
mo official approval of any lis
Is been made. All lists published
ere tentative. Last week l ordered
,anges made in the list as printed
varding the distinguished service
edal among others to AdmiSa
night. Admiral Caperton and Vice
dmiral Jones. sI had also decided
at like awards should be given t.
,rtain other officers who had rem
cred long and arduous service oi
,nyoys and other service af1oat il
le war zone.
"I feel sure that nothing should b.
fl undone as far as is humanity pos
Bile to insure that the awards shal
) made without the possible sug
sstion of injustice or discrimination
yainst any person in the naval serv
e. and l have decided to recon
sne the board of awards to recon
der the whole subject in the iigh
additional information recentl'
mt to the bureau of navigation an
,ch other information as any per
IN in the naval service may wish I
Y before the board. II.
"The board will therefore meet Il
on Monday, Jan. D. lS20.
Others Refuse Medals.
Newport. r. l., Dec. N.-Word ina
Ice Admiral Hilary p. Jones an
apt. Raymond d. Hasbrouck had fol
A1v.afra1 Sims i