Milford chronicle., 1919-12-26
UNCLE TED'S
BEDTIME STORIES
Current Events for the Children
and Grown Ups, Too
THE CZAR OF THE NAVY
JOSEPHUS DANIELS

von II was Uncle Ted who had jus
arrived with his arms full of bundle
and looking for all the world lik
Santa Claus.
We're coming," called the chill
dren as they raced down the from
stairs. What are you going to tel
MS this timer" asked Jack.
You will remember Jack, that
told YOU last week about the bad con
dition OF the Navy How so manl
ships are tied up because there ar,
not enough men to run them; how
2OOO men had deserted in five month.
and what it means in the loss of money
TO our Government. Now l am going
TO tell you something else that has
happened in the Navy since the last
story In every war, children, medals
are given to the men in the army, navy
and marine corps who did real big
things. Some times they are the men
who risked their lives to save others.
Sometimes they are the men who can
tured many of the enemy without aid
from others. Then, too, medals are
rightly given to officers who did big
and wonderful things in having their
branch of the service ready when war
was declared and who worked early
and late to see it through One officer
of this type ! remember is Brig. Gen
Charles L. McCawley, Quartermaster
of the Marine Corps, whose duty il
was to see that the Marines had plenty
of clothes and food. When the war
broke out the Marine Corps was ready
with enough uniforms to give each
man all he needed and they were of
the best material. That one thing
helped a whole lot to make the Mar
ines feel good and content and when
they started fighting you know what
happened to the enemy.
"On February 4, 1919, an act of
Congress was approved which gave
the President power to give the med
ais for war service in the navy and
Marine Corps. But not long ago. I
when it came time to decide to whom
the medals should go, the President
was sick and not able to act So Jo-
sephus Daniels, Secreary of the Navy. .
was, it seems, given the right to give
the medals. He had no way of know
ing who should and who should not
get them, so he appointed a board
composed of naval officers of high
rank, all fair minded men. to go over
all the cases and decide who should
get medals and what kind they should
get"
What medals are given?" asked
Ruth
The law says, Ruth, that there
shall be a medal of honor for acts OF
great heroism in actual fighting. Then
there is the navy cross for acts of
this kind not so great Besides these
two kinds arrangement was made to
give the distinguished service medal
for great and unusual service and the {
navy cross for service not so great s
After the board had decided they sent !
the list of those whom they thought
should get the distinguished service I
cross, the medal of honor or the navy a
cross to Mr.. Daniels for his approval. h
Did he accept what these men had
decided who had been working on the S
list for eight months to make fair Sc n
lections on the war records of the +
various men? No! Instead of that II
he made up a list of his own, cut out o
a large number of names and put in a
the names of his relatives and friends il
and took pains to see that officers to II
whom he holds personal dislike were "
not recognized, no matter what the
board had decided"
asked Jack.
mo, it was not, Jack. Mr.. Daniels
appointed the board so that fair A
awards of the medals could be made -
md he should have agreed with their e.
indings. He has admitted that he n,
ook off the names of officers recon- =
nended by the board and put in r
lames he wanted in their places. He
aid he had the right and power to do n
his and refused to make a formal
tatement. To show what he did I m
yill tell you about some of the cases. 90
tear Admiral Austin NJ Knight was n,
warded the navy cross by Mr.. Dan bv
els. He commanded the Asiatic tn
quadron during the war, rendering
reat service, and everyone believes NJ,
e should have been awarded the dis
nguished service medal. But. Mr. mi
aniels didn't think so and to make sSs
latters worse, he appears to think
lat his nephew, Lieut.. David Worth wi
agley, who commanded the Jacob be
)nes. a destroyer, should have the
service medal. The vic
)ard had recommended the navy FOR
'oss for Mr.. Bagley because he had
me nothing rgeater than many other Oh
,ung officers during the war This \
Is made it hard for Bagley, being sne
nephew of Mr.. Daniels, because on,
her officers feel that they have been no,
lighted and they surely have. An +
her case is that of Rear Admiral ed
,wie. When Mr.. Daniels got to his urd
me he evidently let a personal quar- r
l he had had with the officer de- ton
rhine what he should do. When the fro
ard was taking up Admiral Cowie's Wis
me they had letters of praise from n
cretary Daniels about him. They cha
ire so strong that the board com tv ,
snted upon them. The Admiral's cun
rYice had been important so the YEA
ard recommended the distinguished n
rvice medal. But in the meantime for,
ere was a quarrel between the two N
N. So when Mr.. Daniel came to min,
miral Cowie's name he struck it the
IN the list. N
I could go on and on naming cases nee
e that; but 1 want to tell you what Mr.
opened to Gen. McCawley of the Son
Iine I ny SoTps' Wnom mentioned be- Rau
e. The board recommended the dis Of
guished service medal for him but M
,ause Mr.. Daniels doesn't like he fam
* Him on the list. Ihe general is apai
ated by marriage to Senator Lodge. M
y iSu inc Hsnt against the WoTiu rela
b plan and that may have some m
ng 70 90 with Mr. Danieis attitude. NOV
g. zen. george hichards OF the cent
rlne corps was also recommended Har
the board Tor the distinguished ser furn
medal, but Mr. Daniels doesn't ing
m 10 IKE MIN very much so he hee
k his name off the list too" MI
Wall anything be done to Mr.. Dan into
2" asked Ruth. yaea
Mr.. Daniels list won't be changed, MI
Ii, but IL is yery likely that the for /