Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-12-24
ANSWERS ADMIRAL
SIMS CRITICISMS
Secretary of Navy Outlines Policy
Governing Award of War
Decorations.
SENDS DATA TO CONGRESS
Chief Naval Officer in European
Waters Refuses Service Medal,
Charging Unfairness.
SENDS DATA TO CONGRESS
rny A.soeistea Press.l

of diSsa ;isfac,ion within the navy at
The way Secretary Daniels has arranged
the awards OF decorations for war SER
vice came 10 the surface today when
II became known that Admiral Sims.
former commander Of the .amoricau
naval forces in European waters, had
declined 10 accept his Distinguished
Service Medal while the awards rcma IN
as at present.
At the same TIME the row. which UP
10 this time has been smoldcring
one. gave indications of showing up in
Congress. Chairman Page. OF tho SEN
ate Naval Committee asked for re-
port on the awarding OF tho decora
lions. and Secretary Daniels transmit
led It 20 him tonight
Meanwhile. Representative Lu:Ein,
Republican, OF Massachusetts, Il mem
ber of the House Naval Committee,
announced that he would ask the House
10 call for similar report.
New scnsution Created.
Coming as the climax to published
arranged tho whole list of awards.
raising some officers to higher distinc-
,ion than that recommended, and blue
prnciling others, publication OF Ad-
sat'on in the Navy Department and
added new. CHAPTER to tho long CON
test test, in which some naval Officers have
ls,ra,ion OF affairs and others have de-
tended him with equal vigor.
The. whole thing has been broush,
sims. who writing an Official commuui-
cation 10 Secretary Daniels from the
Naval War College AT Newport. Il. /.
recommended the p,stins uishcd Service
Medal, highest OF all naval decorations
except the Congressional Medal OF
Honor received hv r..
Vision a decoration OF lesser value. and
that other officer. whose duties and
~ lesser value received by the revision.
the more valued decoration. At the
same time. i develops: Admiral Sims
sent f-hnkcd copies or his letter to
many naval officers in Washington. His
action became known first through
them: and later today Mr. Daniels gave
IN the day. however. Mr.. Daniels had
announced that he was preparing the
Tepor, asked for by senator Page, and
tonight after transmitting it TO the
senator made public copies of it.
Refusal Not Unconditional.
Admiral Sims. in. his letter. does
not appear 10 refuse his decoration un-
conditionally. lie refused II under the
conditions he outlines and hc asks for
an opportunity 10 explain the reasons
for ms original rccommendations. Be
'lc highest awards be aiken from any
"mcers upon whom il already has bees,
'o'!crren hnt he does ask for re-
vision upward OF some OF the lesser
decorations.
Secretary Daniels rcpo-, 10 Chair
man rage Of the Senate Naval Com
iin,,ter' ina outlines The general policy fol-
medals and distinctions 10 naval on,
GERS and enlisted men.
inaicntinE that the entire cont-o-
NersH that has now como TO light re.
Noves around the old Navy Depa-t
m ,Iene asrsement as to which class
port said: " " ~
The value Of the duty on shore wa
sh3usd be OF the hiShcs, Importance
,,nh f,sponsib!lity III order that this
IVY should be recoe nizcd by the award
..Nen to officers charged with rrnat
r"sP.o,nsin'iitE aud at the same time in
woH.'i"mM ,"s. ynm OF Eravs danger in the actlv,
Mnr zone. and this was tho STANDARD
Wn'ch any particular case had 10 mrc,
lor IN officer on shore duty 10 he
awarded The medal "
should lie Given prcfcre,cc
EmphaszinS his belief that onca-s
',nEaSed IN hazardous and responsihIe
duties in the North Sea-msnng sauad.
and the armed guard scrvice-shnuii
ne given preference in the award of
yo n,Sn 2onors Of officers serving on shore,
wen IN positions OF great responsible,
i;y. and officers serving with shins in
nome waters. Secretary Daniels said
different forces was recoEnized bv ,i,c
hoard or awards in assigning certain
medals to the officers in command ~
nc SHIPS ana stations concerned and
/ I'm ms Plan of procedure met my ap-
with the, policy in mind Secretary
i,anicis said he had changed howcveT
the recommenda tions OF the board OF
Awards convened under Rear Admiral
AUSTIN NJ Knight in the case of "a num-
ncr OF ofhcers serving on shore at
nome oil, or III home waters; so that such
lesser valne 1e'u ,bpn pGeeixG ni; decoratons OF
the face of the enemy overseas.
Contrasts With Sims View.
IN contrast TO Admiral Sims state
mcnt that the commanding officers of
SHIPS SUNK oy enemy submarines should
in hts report said:
"in addition to the recognition of
the service, rendered by the officers and
men OF the forces above mentioned
particular individuals whose conduct
was outstanding and who SHOULD he
singled on, for special recognition. 1t
Service Medal should be awarded to
those officers in command of ships of
the navy which were sunk by subma.
rinc. attack. and whose conduct was
all these cases TO be carefully investi-
gated, and as II result OF this every Of
iiccr reported meritorious in command
,shed Of sned sesnpo snip wns s awarded Distin-
Commenting on the fact that the
knight board originally recommended
only eight officers and men who served
in the armed, guards on board merchant
i said that in view of tho hazardous ma
azure OF such duty and after careful in
vcstisation he had increased thc mum
(Continued on Second Pagc,)