Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-12-28
FULL PROBE 0F NAVY SCANDAL.
 NOW ASSURED
House and Department Plan to Conduct Scpara;e
 Inquiries
MORE OFFICERS ARE
 MAKING COMPLAINTS
Some Ask Cancellation of Awards, Saying They Don't Deserve Them Others Seek
 Higher Citations

|
 Higher Citations
 Washington, Dee. 27.-Full in
 vestigation of the controversy over
 awards of decorations for war ser
 vice to naval officers, brought ta
 a head by Rear-Admiral William
 s. Sims, recent protest against the
 tentative list issued by the navy by congress and the department. f On the heels of Secretary Dan- iels' announcement that the naval
 board headed by Rear Admiral
 Knight had been ordered recon vened to review it's findings on re- concentrations for medals or oth- CT decorations, Representative Lufkin, republican, Massachusetts, of the house naval committee, coN- ferred with members of the senate committee an dstated that a joint comittee would take up the whole question when congress recon Hvened.
 Representative Lufkin said Sec retary Daniels, Admirals Knight, Sims, and other officers would be called before the joint committee, which does not need special au- thorization for it's inquiry. Changes made by Mr.. Daniels in the board list of awards as well as the action of the board in each case vii be examined, he said.
 Secretary Daniels said today that in reviewing the list of de- corations and in passing on new recommendations for awards the Knight board would be in- structed to follow in general the policy he adopted in revising the original lists, giving due consideration to the objections voiced by officers who have cri.i- cized some of the awards.
 The names of Admiral Henry F Wilson who commanded American naval forces in French waters dur ing the war, and of Rear Admiral Henry T. Mayo, who was in com- mand of the Atlantic fleet during the period of hostilities, were ada ed to the list of officers who have written the secretary regarding the awards.
 Requests Cancellation.
 Officers objections will be plac- ed before the Knight board and Secretary Daniels said today he hoped the revised awards made by the board could be accepted with out change. He indicated that he would send them to the president for his personal approval. The made public tonight copies of letters as to the awards received by Mir Daniels from Ad- miral Jones, Mayo and Decker and Captain Hasbrouck. That from Ad- miral Jones goes at some length into the service he rendered dur ing the war, beginning as com mander 0 fla squadron of the pa- trol force, later of a squadron oi the cruiser force, still later as commander of the Newport News division, cruiser and transport force, and finally as administra- tor of harbor floating equipment in Hampton Roads district.
 'It is submitted" the letter said, ""that, if the discharge of these highly responsible and large ly independent duties were so suc- cessful as to meet the departments the responsible officer should be recognized. If, on the the duties outlined above were not successfully carried out othe satisfaction of the depart ment there should be no award of decorations.
 In view of these considerations, Admiral Jones said he felt it "my luty to the dignity and import ar1ce of the forces operated. and the work accomplished by them,i to request that the award to him of navy cross be cancelled.
 Admiral Mayo declared it was evident there had been miscor- ,eption in considering recommen- lations for decorations he made as commander of the fleet, many 'f which, he added, were not cE- 'ied out. The letter notes that no member of his staff received a decoration except his chief of staff and asserts that an admiral's success rests to large extent up- ,n the "loyalty, initiative and eff. 'iciency" of his staff personnel.
 Failure to recognize adequately he service of men on such duty, t said, "creates an impression ;ha such duty is of minor im- ,ortance" not comparable to com- nand of single ship. Such an it said, "would be fa- al to the development of the navy IS a fighting machine"
 Admiral Mayo renewed his rec 'mmendations and urged that re- consideration be given meritorious ases.
 Admiral Decker's letter notes he vas awarded a navy cross under he published list in recognition # his services as naval attache at Madrid.