Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-25
DANIELS COURTS
FULLEST PUBLICITY
IN AWARDS AFFAIR
is Confident Concerning the
Sweeping Congressional
Inquiry Planned.
Publicity-and publicity to the ut

Publicity-and publicity to the ut
most,
This is the stand taken by Secretary
Daniels Of the Navy Department, III
connection with the controversy BE-
tween him and Admiral Sims, COM
mander of the American fleet in EURO
pean waters. over the awards OF as
tinguished service medals in the Navy.
Mr.. Daniels said today he will turn
over Everything to the slightest de-
taiI' bearing upon the case TO chairman
PAGE Of the Senate naval affairs COM
mittee. He said he is not worrying
about q congressional inquiry into the
whole system of awarding honors 70
men of the Navy. and declared he
courted the fullest publicity of the facts.
Asserts Facts Were WeiEhed.
Speaking Of the part he played IN
making material changes in the
recommendation of the knight board
of awards, Secretary Daniels told a
Star reporter that he acted accord
ing to the dictates of his own con-
science" and that he weighed the
facts carefully.
Il am going to give Chairman Page
of the Senate naval affairs commit
tee everything pertaining to this ar
fair said Secretary Daniels He
will get all the facts
When told that a number of re3ub-
lican members of the House naval af-
fairs committee are "avOiding crlti-
ciSm at the present time and urging
the public to suspend Judgment until
the facts are made known, Mr.. Dan
iels declared it is mot a question of
politics, but of honor. OF course, l
will have to expect opposition from
some quarters, but that doesn't worry
me in the least"
Sweeping Inquiry Planned.
1t was learned today that definite
steps are being taken for a sweeping
congressional inquiry into the entire
system of issuing awards in the Navy.
1t is declared in congressional circles
that the naval affairs committee of the
Senate will not be interested in the
voluminous data which particular Navy
officers furnished to the board of
awards, until it has finished with the
issue between the knight board and Ad-
niiral Sims. or between Admiral Sims
and Secretary Daniels.
1t is said the commanding officers
recommendations were used by the
board in making the awards. To wade
through this mass of data, it was said,
would only befuddle the main issue
the controversy existing between the
head of the Navy Department and Ad-
miral Sims. However. the lawmakers
are not going to let their interest
wane when the controversy has been
cleared UP, IL was learned, and plans
are being rapidly pushed for 4 thor
ough investigation of the whole
awards scheme
taken by the Senate naval affairs com
mittee as soon as Congress recon-
venes on January 5. Tho House COM
mittee will likewise take action at
that time. il was said.
143 ID. 8. Medals Awarded.
There were 143 distinguished serv-
ice medals awarded to officers and en-
listed men in the Navy and Marine
Corps. Admiral Sims, in his report on
the distinguished service rendered by
his staff in carrying out the German
blockade and putting crimp'' in
submarine warfare, recomm end ed
nineteen Of his officers for the dis
tinguished service medal.
The Knight board, which first act
ed upon Admiral Sims recommends
tons. eliminated thirteen names. urg-
ing that the officers be awarded the
Navy cross, an honor inferior to the
distinguished service medal.
Then Secretary Daniels, in going
over the knight boards report, low
cred three distinguished service men
to Navy crosses. and elevated in their
stead three Knight board Navy cross
men to the award of distinguished
service medal.
Capt. L. c. Tobey. who was recon-
mended for the Navy cross by the board,
was elevated to the d. S. NJ by Mr.
Daniels, as were E. G. Blakeslee and
3. A. Long.
Capt. F. H. schofieId, Capt Hutch I.
Cone and Commander l.. b. Mcbride,
who were all slated for the distinguished
service medal by recommendation of
both Admiral Sims and the knight
board, were reduced to the award of
the Navy cross.