The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-12-23
On the Refusal by Admiral
Sims to Accept a
Decoration
LATTER CHARGED
INJUSTICE DONE
Sec. Daniels Intimates That
Some Names May
Be Removed

" ~ NJ lPIA- t9NNl
tafw Daniels to-day ordered compre
hensiye report on award of naval dec
orations prepared for the information
of Chairman Page Of the Senate naval
committee. 1t will include all recon-
mendstions by individuals or by boards
and the action by the boards and by
the secretary himself on the recommen-
dations.
The order was issued in response to
request from Senator Page, which
followed criticism of the manner in
which some of the awards were dis
tributed. Part of this criticism was
made by Rear Admiral Sims, who com
manded American naval forces overseas
during the war.
Mr.. Daniels declined to comment on
the letter received by him from Adj
miral Sims further than to say that
published excerpts from the letter ap-
peared TO be substantially correct, al
though he had not had time to read the
communication carefully. In the letter
Admiral Sims declined the decoration
distinguished service medal-tendered
to him personally on the ground that
injustice had been done some officers in
the distribution Of the awards.
when the list of recommendations
and awards is made public said Mr..
Daniels, in referring TO the report to be
sent to Senator Page, Il have no doubt
the American people will approve the
principle followed and the application
of that principle" +"
Mr. Daniels added that the list of
awards already made public was in no
way final; that additions undoubtedly
would be made as more recent recon-
mendations were taken up for consid
Grafton, and it was not impossible that
some names might be removed from
the published list
Last week | received a letter from
the Hon G. B. Page, chairman Of the
naval affairs committee Of the Senate,
Mr.. Daniels said requesting a copy of
the so-called knight board recommen-
dations Of awards.
Il called up Senator Pages office and
informed the secretary of his commit
tee that data was being collected, and
as soon as it was ready ] would be
pttHHfu 10 Hie0 IL 10 uiIUs
Directions have been given to pre-
pare statement containing the follow
ing information;
"lAll recommendation for awards
by admirals, captains and other com
manding officers.
80 The action of the board upon all
such recommendation and its complete
report.
"3 The action taken by the depart
ment.
"As soon as this data is ready lit
must be collected literally from reams
of recommendations) it will be sent TO
Chairman Page and given to the public.
"The board of awards did not ap.
prove all of the recommendations OF the
commanding officers. The secretary did
not approve ali the recommendation of
the board He added names Of officers
and enlisted men who had performed
conspicuous service The only way that
fair minded men can Judge the wisdom
of the awards so far announced are
from the lists,
I'm every war there are, Of course,
differences of opinion as to the award
OF distinctions | remember the crit
icisms that were voiced in the Spanish
American war. After the landing at
Vera Cruz, many medals were awarded,
so many in fact, that the statement
was often made that no distinction was
made between distinguished and ordi-
nary service. At that time | approved
without change the recommendations
submitted to me, 1t became my duty,
at the close of this war, imposed by act
OF Congress, to approve the awarding
OF medals and distinctions. and | re-
solved that action should be governed
by fixed principles and all in certain
classes should be recognized alike, |
was also resolved that the most distin-
guished honors should be awarded
those who were in most peril and who
suffered most and rendered the most
distinguished service. The awards so
TAR announced followed this sound pol
icy The final and complete list has
not been approved, for some recommen-
dations were long delayed.