Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-12-24
FAVORIT|SM IS
ALLEGATION Of
j. s. NAVAL HERO
Man Who Commanded Amer
iCan Fleet in European Wa
ters Says Discrimination
Has Been Employed.
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Washington. Dec. 2S.-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 to-
daY when ii became known that Ad-
American naval forces in European
waters. had declined To accept his dis
tlngulshed service medal while the
awards remain as al present
AT the same time. the row which
un TO this time has been a shoulder
ing one. gave intentions of showing up
in congress. Chairman PAGE of the
senate naval committee asked for a
rations and Secretary Daniels trans
mitted one to him tonight Mean
while. Representative Lufkin of Mas
sachusetts, a member of the house
naval committee. announced that he
would ask the house to call for sim
liar report
Coming as the climax to published
charges that Secretary Daniels has re-
arranged the whole list Of awards,
raising some officers to higher DIS
tinction than recommended ana
"hlue pencilling" others. publication
of Admiral Sims action created a new
sensation in the navy department and
added "A new chapter to the long CON
complained of the secretary's admin
stration of affairs and others nave
defended him with equal vigor.
Climax of Quarrel.
The whole thing has been brought
to a head by the action of Admiral
munieation to Secretary Daniels, has
set out that officers for whom he
recommended the distinguished serV-
ice medal-highest of all naval deco,
Iations except the congressional medal
of honor--reeeived by the secretary's
revision decoration of lesser value.
and that other officers whose duties
and services Admiral Sims considered
as Of lesser value. received by the re-
vision the more valued DECORATIONS.
AT the same time. II develops, Ad-
mir;il Sims sent franked copies OF ms
letter to many naval officers In WASH
ineton His action became known
first through them. and later TO-DAY
Mr Dente ,are c,it thn litter with
out comment Earlier III the uay
however. Mr., Daniels 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..
Not Unconditional Refusal.
Admiral Sims, in his letter. does not
appear to refuse his decoration uncon-
ditionally. He refuses it under the
conditions he outlined and he asks for
an opportunity to explain the reasons
for his original recommendations Be
sides that the admiral does not ask
tDdI IIl6 0lBHtSl dWdIu ut - Siii
anv officer upon whom 1t already has
heen conferred but he does ask for
revision upward of some of the lesser
decorations.
Sims long known as the stormy
petrel of the navy since his sen5a-
tional 'last- drop Of blood" speech in
The Guild haH at London. when he
drew the attention of the foreign Of
fices at Berlin. London and Washing
ton, has figured in navy sensations
before and has MANY warm support
ers among the officers Secretary
Daniels report to Chairman Page of
the senate naval committee outlines
the general policy followed by the
secretary in awarding medals and dis,
tinctions to naval officers and enlisted
men.
Indicating that the entire contro-
yersy that has now come to light re-
wolves around the old navy depart
ment disa greement as to which class
Of service--shore or sea---is most inn
portant Secretary Daniels in his re-
Tine value of the duty on shore
was duly recognized but in my opinion
il should be of the highest Importance
and responsibilitv 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 responsibility and at the same
time in positions of grave danger in
the active war zone. and this was the
standard which anv particular case
had to meet for an officer on shore
duty to be awarded the medal.