Arizona republican., 1919-12-28
CONGRESS PLANS
 PROBE IF NAVAL AWARD SCANDAL.
Joint Committee. Will In- vestigate Methods Used by Daniels in Selecting "Eligibles'' Many Pro- tests Filed With Naval Officers
[RepubIican A. p. Leased wire1


 WASHINGTON, Dec. 27-F'ull i'm vestigation of the controversy over awards of decorations for war service 10 naval officers, brought to a head by Rear Admiral William S. Sims recent protest against the tentative list issued by the navy department, will be made both by congress and by the depart ment.
 On the heels of Secretary Daniels announcement that the naval board, headed by Rear Admiral Knight, had been ordered reconvened to review it's findings on recommendations for other decorations. Representative Lufkin, re- publican, Massachusetts, of the house naval committee, conferred with mem bers of the senate committee and stat ed that a joint committee would take up the entire question when congress reconvened.
 Will Call Naval Leaders
 Representative Lufkin said Secretary Daniels, Admiral Knight. Admiral Sims and other officers would be called be- fore the joint committee, which does not need special authorization for its inquiry Changes made by Mir. Daniels in the board list of awards, as well as the action of the board in each case. will be examined. he said.
 Secretary Daniels said today that in revising the list of decorations and in passing on new recommendations for awards the Knight board would be in- -lIucteu IO IOllDW general the pOilcy 1e adopted in revising the original fists. giving due consideration to the objections voiced by officers who have criticised some of the awards
 The names of Admiral Henry B. Wilson. who commanded American naval forces in French waters during he war, and of Rear Admiral Henry T.. Mayo, who was in command of the Atlantic fleet during the period of hostilities. were added today to the ist of officers who have written the secretary regarding the awards Other officers who have made protests include Vice Admiral Hilary P. Jones. commander of squadron two of the Atlantic fleet. Rear Admiral Decker, commanding the seventh naval district at Key West and Captain Raymond D. HaSbrouck, commander of the battle ship Minnesota. Admiral Jones and Captain Hasbrouck refused the navy cross for which they had been rs com mended, supporting the position taken by Admiral Sims.
 Beard to Hear Objections
 The objections voiced by these of fieers will be placed before the Knight board and Secretary Daniels said to- day that he hoped the revised awards made by the board could be accepted without change. He indicated that he would send them to the president for his personal approval
 The department made public tonight copies of letters received by MT. Daniels from Admirals Jones, Mayo and Becker and Captain Hasbrouck The one from Admiral Jones goes at some length into the service he rem dered during the war, beginning as commander of a squadron of the patrol force, later of a squadron of the cruiser force. still later as commander of the Newport News division, cruiser and transport force. and finally as ad- ministrator of harbor floating equip ment in Hampton roads district
 Tt is submitted, the letter said that, if the discharge. of these highly responsible and largely independent duties were so successful as to meet the departments approval, the re- sponsible officer should be recognized commensurately, and those subordi- mates whom he recommended as hav- ing contributed directly to that success should also be recognized If on the contrary, the duties outlined above were not successfully carried out to the satisfaction of the department there should be no award for decora- tions.''
 Asks Cancellation of Award
 In view of these considerations. Ad- miral Jones said he felt it "rny duty to the dignity and importance of the forces operated. and the work accom- plished by them" to request that the
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