Evening journal., 1919-12-23
Today's News Today
D. 5. NJ. AWARDS
At BOTTOM OF
navy SCANDAL
Continued from First Page.


success OF the forces under my com
msnd Admiral Sims Is understood to
have written. but since the success OF
the forces abroad was chiefly due TO the
loyal and efficient services OF the OH
GERS recommended for distlnction-'and
to them belong the credit"
! am necessarily placed in a position
which renders II impossible for me 10
accept this award under the conditions
now existing.
This becomes my duty because this
! list lthe one finally issued by Daniels
for war decOrati0ns), contains a num-
Der OF Instances OF injustice TO distn-
! guished officers, the effect OF which
upon the morale OF service. cannot fail
TO be very detrimental
"The injustice lies not in the number
OF awards made but in the fact that
the awards, as issued 10 officers, In a
number Of Instances. are not In accord
with the relative merit OF the services
performed by them as indicated by
recommendations" Sims letter con-
tlnued. "Oflcers who were recon-
mended for the highest awards appear
on the list as having been accorded
lower awards and vice versa"
In response TO Chairman Pages re-
quest, Daniels Is preparing a statement
containing information showing all
recommendations for awards by Ad-
mirals. Captains and other command
ing officers, the action Of the naval war
board upon all such recommendation
and its complete report, and the action
taken by Daniels.
LAS soon as this data is ready" Dam
lels said, 1t will be sent TO Chairman
Page and given TO the public"
Lufkn in a statement charged Dani-
els with arbitrary action and said Sims
charges demand that the real facts be
made known.
MY resolution will call for the rec
Ommondations made by Admiral Sims
and other fleet commanders in the cases
Of their officers entitled 20 recognition H.
he said. 1t viii likewise call for a
full report Of the findings and rec
Concentrations OF board OF which Ad-
miral Knight was chairman. convened az
the instance cf Secretary Daniels TO
consider these cases. In the third place
the resolution viii ask for the chanscs
in the accommodations made by the
Secretary himself and the reason for
this arbitrary action on his part.
Gas a member OF the naval commit
tee intensely interested in the efllci
ency and morale OF the navy hope
that this whole agitation was the re-
suit Of disappointments in the case OF
one or two officers who had failed Of
recognition. coupled with the desire OF
certain newspapers TO stir up trouble.
! am convinced. however. that the mat
ter is more far reaching than this.
When an officer OF the prominence and
distinction OF Admiral Sims feels Il so
necessary % decline to receive a medal
himself and 20 repudiate the proceed
ings on the part OF the secretary ! be-
leve that the time has come when the
Congress and the people are entitled
to the real facts. The awarding OF
medal for distinguished war service is
a matter Of such sacred importance to
the individual naval officer that the
slightest rumor OF political or personal
consideration in connection with such
award should not be allowed 10 go un-
challenged. / can think OF nothing
more likely to disrupt the whole or
ganizatiOn than actions OF this kind"