The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1919-12-28
WILSON TO BE FINAL
ARBITER ON HONORS
FOR NAVAL SERVICE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
prominently in their services to the
feet, the navy and the country. as
did the officers of my staff, whom
had the privilege of recommending
for awards. cannot be considered as
less worthy of distinction than those
officers who had occasion to display
their ability in more conspicuous en-
ployment."
Admiral Jones bases his refusal to
accept the Navy Cross on the service
rendered by him as the commander
of the first squadron of the patrol
force at sea, as commander of the
first division of the cruiser force. as
commander OF the Newport News
cruiser and transport force and as
administrator of the harbor floating
equipment in the Hampton Roads
District
Except Spain Out of War;
Rear Admiral Decker declines to
accept the Navy Cross because he
says that he and his associates in
the office Of the American Naval
Office at Madrid were responsible for
keeping Spain from entering the war
against the United States and the
allies despite opposition from the
United States Ambassador to the
Spanish court.
Capt. Hasbrouck simply requests
that his name be stricken from the
list of awards OF the Navy Cross
and says:
I have a higher regard for Ad-
rnira1 ~ rnaftarC 0f-
fecting the morale OF the naval serV-
ice than those Of any other officer.
ConcurTing so unreservedly in his
views. cannot consistently and
with honesty to myself accept an
honor which 1 personally feel is un-
deserved"
Secretary Daniels believes the &C.
ton he took yesterday will have the.
effect Of eliminating him from the
controversy. but the President will
either have to stand by the action
already taken by his Cabinet mem
Der. or repudiate 1t. Furthermore.
the President may relegate the duty
Of review to the Secretary and thus
plunge him again into the contro-
versy as the final arbiter.
PersonneI OF Board.
The Secretary announced the per-
sonnet OF the Board of Award, as
follows:
Rear Admiral Austin NJ. Knight,
chairman; Rear Admiral NJ. T Endi-
colt. Rear Admiral c. J. Badger.
Rear Admiral Dewitt Coffman, Capt
J. IL Linnard. Capt D. II. Tribou.
Capt. John T. Boyd. Capt. NJ. C. Nc
Donald. Col p. St Clair Murphy, and
Lieut. Comdr. Jukes.
The Secretary refused to comment
on a reported breach between Ad-
miral Sims and Admiral Wilson. lie
said:
II selected Admiral Sims to 20 to
England and Admiral Wilson to go
to France. They are two OF the
ablest officers in the navy. II there
Is any difference in opinion between
them on anything. I don't care to
say anything about IT. I never knew
until recently that inside of the
navy there were any differences be-
tween officers.
VIII Get All DATA.
81 am going to send to the KNIGHT
board every statement that has
come in or will come in pertaining
to decoration. / will also send
1t every letter with reference to
awards, and 1 have received many
letters to the effect that this or tina,
man has been overlooked.
"A great many recommendations
have come in since the Knight boa I'd
met This board knows what /
think. so l have decided to let il
take the matter up. I hope the find
ings of the board will be final
am inclined to think that the men
VIII be willing to trust a board of
their fellow oficers."