Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-12-26

tSA~@StDNAA AAfSSNtSatiitb LOuf- SSCNI e
tary Daniels has expressed regre
that the glory of the achievement.
of the Navy IN the world war wer,
being spoiled by petty rivalries O
some officers over decorations; ais
that the fine spirit of members OIL
the naval service during the war" a.
we'll as the spiri, OF Christmas. should
be married by controversy in the
naval service over the awarding oil
medals
Daniels Shaping Data
Secretary Daniels stated that. some
four thousand officers and men of the
Navy had been recommended by Of
ficers from admiral down, for Dis
tinguished Service Medals or Naval
! Crosses. He stated that every recon-
mendation that had been received. in
Guiding those that had been submitted
I to the Naval Board, of which Rear
Admiral Austin NJ. knight, former
president of the Naval War College.
now a retired officer, is chairman.
This board went over the records and
and made certain recommendations.
The knight Boards recommends
tons were followed in some instances
by Secretary Daniels. and were re-
jected or modified in others. Mr. Dan
iels said that the net result of the
recommendations Of the board and the
action of himself upon these recon-
mendations was the decision so far
to award Naval Crosses to about 400
officers and men and Distinguished
Service Medals TO about 100 officers
Secretary Daniels spent half the
day in the Navy Department going
over the records in the case of each
officer and man as submitted to the
knight Board and getting them ready
to be submitted to Chairman Page OF
the Senate Naval Committee. which
has already begun an informal inves-
tigation into the controversy, prelimi-
nary. 1t is understood to a more
sweeping inquiry. Mr.. Daniels said
that every recommendation that had
been made for crosses or medals for
the whole list of more than 1000 of
ficers and men would be submitted
to Chairman Page, and that the rec
ords OF each of these officers and
men, as well as the action on each in
dividual case. would be submitted to
the chairman of the Senate Naval
Committee.
Daniels CriticiSeS Law
Secretary Daniels comments have
indicated that he did not think well
at all of the present method OF award
ing medals and crosses to heroes and
others in the Navy. These awards
we're based on an act of Congress
which laid down the rule to be fol-
lowed in making the awards. While
this is true. members of Congress
who have been active in looking into
the matter, and officers in the naval
service have been dissatisfied with
the manner in which the awards were
actually made under Secretary DAN
iels' Interpretation of the law under
which the President was authorized
to present naval crosses and naval
medals.
The difficulty with the present
kind of law governing the awarding
OF these medals is that it has always
led TO controversy and wrangling
which is not good for the naval serv-
ice" said Mr. Daniels. II feel that
! have acted conscientously in acting
on the recommended tons for awards.
The matter is still open and l am
ready to receive the views of naval
officers on the awards already made
or recommendations for the awarding
of medals or crosses to others who
have not received them. Personally
am in favor of rewarding the cap
tain of every vessel which did great
service in the war. but every mem
her of the crew of such vessels should
share in the honors also. The COM
mander who is rewarded should not
forget that while he is being person
ally commended for distinguished
token of the gallantry of the men
serving under him. / would be in
service, that the award is also
favor of decorating ships that saw
distinguished service. just las regi-
ments are sometimes decorated for
fine service. or else give every man
on such a vessel an award"
Recommended Whole Crew
Secretary Daniels. without disclos
ing the name of the officer, said that
there was one officer in the navy who
had recommended TO the Navy De-
partment that every man on his ship
should receive a Distinguished Serv
ice Medal.
Mrhan the recnrd In tho case of