Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-12-24
DANIELS ROW SENSATION AT WASKINCT0 Senate Calls for and Receives Report on Awards of
 Medals ADMIRAL'S LETTER IS
 MADE PUBLIC Sims Has Figured in Navy Affairs Before--Criticism of Dan-
 iels Addressed to Him
 Others Got Copies

-OtnerS GOL tOpleS
 Washington, Dec. 23.-Rumb- lings of dissatisfaction within the navy at the way Secretary Daniels has arranged the awards of deco rations for war service came to the surface today when it became known that Admiral Sims, former commander of American naval forces in European waters, had declined to accept his distinguish ed service medal, while the awards remain as at present.
 At the same time, the row gave intimations of showing up in con- gross. Chairman Page of the senate naval committee asked for report on the awarding of the decorations and Secretary Daniels transmitted it to him tonights Rep resentative Lufkin, republican, Massachusetts, member of the house naval committee, announced that he would ask the house to call for similar report.
 Coming as the climax, published charges that Secretary Daniels had re-arranged the whole list of awards, raising some officers to higher distinction than recom- mended and "blue pencilling" oth- CTS. Publication of Admiral Sims action created a new sensation in the navy department.
 1 The whole thing has been brought to head by the action of Admiral Sims, who writing an of ficial communication to Secretary Daniels from the naval war col lege at Newport, R. l., has set out that officers for whom he recon mended the distinguished service medal-highest of all naval deco rations except the congressional medal of honor-received by the secretary's revision a decoration of lesser value, and that other of- ficers whose duties and services Admiral Sims considered of lesser value, received by the revision the more valued decoration.
 Refuses Decorations.
 At the same time, it develops, Admiral Sims sent franked cop ies of his letter to many naval of ficers in Washington. His action became known first thru them, and later today MT. Daniels gave out the letter, without comment. Ear Her in the day, however, MT. Dan iels had announced that he had prepared the report asked for by Senator Page and tonight, after transmitting it to the senator, made public copies of it.
 Admiral Sims, in his letter, re- fused the decoration under the conditions he outlines and he asks for an opportunity to explain the reasons for his original recom- mendations. The admiral does not ask that the highest award be taken from any officer upon whom it has been conferred, but asks for a revision upward of some of the lesser decorations.
 Sims, long known as the stormy peterel of the navy, since his sen sational "last drop of blood" speech in the guild hall at London, when he drew the attention of the for eign offices of Berlin, London and Washington, has figured in navy sensations before and has many warm supporters among the officers.
 Secretary Daniels report te Chairman Page outlines his gener- al policy in awarding medals and distinctions to naval officers and enlisted men.
 Indicating that the entire con- troversy that has now come to light revolves around the old navy department disagreement as to which class of service-shore or sea-is more important, Secretary Daniels in his report said:
 Opinions Differ.
 "The value of the duty on shore was duly recognized, but in my opinion it should be of the high est importance and responsibility in order that this duty should be recognized by the award of the same kind of medals as that giv- en to officers charged with great responsibility and at the same time in positions of grave dan ger in the active war zone, and this was the standard which any particular case had to meet for an officer on shore duty to be awarded the medaE."
 Emphasizing his belief that of ficers engaged in hazardous and responsible duties in the North sea mining squadron, the destroyer