Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-23
DANIELS ASKS FULL
REPORT ON NAVAL
HON0RS AWARDED
Secretary Declares Lists
Made Public Are Not
$50, Final.
MAKES LITTLE COMMENT
ON SIMS CT I1IcIsM
Has Not Had Time to fRead Care
fully" Admiral's IettIr Declin-
ing Decoration.

Secretary Daniels today ordered a
comprehensive report on award of
naval decorations prepared for the
Information of Chairman Page of the
Senate naval committee. 1t will in
clude all recomm endationS by indi-
Viduals or by boards and the action
taken by the boards and by the Sec
rotary himself upon the recon-
Isendations.
The order was issued in response
TO a request from Senator Page
which followed criticism of the man.
7fer In which some of the awards
were distributed. Part of this crit
.cism was made by Rear Admiral
Sims. who commanded American
naval forces overseas during the
war Representative Lufkin of the
House naval committee also will in
Nnen congress reconveneS after the
holidays.
No Comment ON Sims Letter.
Mr.. Daniels declined to comment on
Inc letter on the subject received by
him from Admiral Sims further than
70 say that published excerpts from
The letter appeared to be substantial
~ correct, although he had not had
time to read the communication care
1ully. In the letter Admiral Sims de-
ciined the decOratiOn-a distinguished
service medal-tendered to him per-
sonally on the ground that injustice
MAD 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
De sent to Senator Page. Il have no
doubt the American people will ap-
prove 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.
Mr.. Daniels Statement
In his formal statement TODAY Mr..
Daniels said:
Last week 1 received a letter from
senator c. S. Page, chairman of the
naval affairs committee of the Senate.
requesting copy of the so-calied
Knight boards Recommendation of
awards.
called up Senator PaHs,S--off5es
and Informed the secretary of his
committee that data were being COL
-se.SG ana as soon as they were ready
Woutqr be pleased to furnish them to hin,
Dfrectiens have been gi.en to pre-
pare a statement containing the fol-
lowing information:
L All recommendations for awards
by admirals. captains and other com.
maEding officers
Inc action of the board upon
al suchr recommendations and ito
complete report.
The action taken by the depart.
ment. epai =
Data to He Made Public.
AS soon as this data is ready-it
Must pc connected literally from reams
OF recon N q MT 10
70 Chairman Page and given to the
public. ~ 'he
The board of awards did not an
prove all of the recommendation of
me commanding officers. The Secre-
tary did not approve of all the recon- :
mendations of the board He added
names of officers and enlisted mn
who had performed conspicuous sery-
Ice. The only way that fair-minded
men can judge the wisdom of the
compare the lists.
A1ter every war there are of
course, differences of opinion as to
the award of distinctions. remem
Der the criticisms that were voiced in
the SpaDiSh-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 dis
tinguished and ordinary service. At
the recommendations submitted to
me. 1t. became my duty, at the close
of taiS war. imposed by act of Con-
gress, to approve the awarding of
medals and distinctions. and I re-
solved that action should be governed
by a fixed principle and all in certain
classes should be recognized alike.
] was also resolved that the most dis
tinguished honors should be awarded
those who We're in most peril and
sui suffered = he
most distinguished service. The
awards so far announced follow this
sound policy. and when the list of
recommendations and awards is made
public I have no doubt that the Amer
lean people will approve the principle
followed and the application of that
principle The final and complete list
has not been approved. for some rec
concentrations were long delayed
Copie. of Letter Sent Here.
Copies of Admiral Sims letter to
Secretary Daniels, publication of
were sent by the former commando r
of the United States naval expedi-
tionary force to certain naval officers
now stationed at the National Capital.
II is not known definitely that those
who got these copies were men whom
Admiral Sims had recommended for
naval honorS, the recommendations
failing to go through Recipients of
the letters and naval officers generally
have no means of knowing such a
fact. and may never know. 1t is OBJ
yious. however. that the receipt by q
laval officer who formerly served I'm
der Admiral Sims of copy of such a
document as the admiral has sent to
the Secretary probably means that
the recipients name was selected by
Admiral Sims and eliminated by Sec
rotary Daniels.
Nor can it be definitely stated by
any person. with the exception of Ad-
rniral Sims, that all the officers nomi-
mated for hOnors and failing to re-
ce;ve them. got copies of the outspok-
en- letter. The plain Inference is
however. that if they were sent tc
.,e,gne they were sent to all.
Prevailing Naval Sentiment.
The sentiment apparently prevailin.
in naval circles is: Our hats are of
to Admiral Sims. He is man bis
enough to do this big thing and I,
let his loyal subordinates know tina
he ia DESTROYS only of seeing tho.
who deserve honors get them an,
those who do not deserve them fai
to get them
REQUESTS for copies of the Sims com
munication were refused by the Sec
rotary of the Navy today at will no
he given out by this office just at thi
time" he said.
Admiral Sims sent his letter to Sec