The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1919-12-23
ADMIRAL SIMS
DECLINES WAR
DECORATION
Letter Creates Furorc =
Daniels Defends Sys-
tern of Awards

NAHAiNuAVAt hNta aaI-~AtNINN uI
letter written BY Reur Admiral sim. 10 See
fslasT Danisll dscllaine 70 sesepi the dses-
ration awarded him for his service, A. som
nander IN chief of American n-ssl forces In
european waters during The war have beca
received ~ a number ef naval once0 IA
Washington.
Nov many omeers received eopie. has GOT
bsen eatabllehed. nor has u been laarued
whers the copies we're mailed. Aaialral
sina ia NJ Newport. ". l.. where he u sta
tened - prssidsnt Of tAs navai var eoi'
lcgc.
Admiral sims wroia Secretary Danieis that
ne eoald not aecsPt The Distinguished ssr.
vice medal awarded 20 him because Of tho
maansf In which ths awards ~sfs made. aud
Ltcaute soms oiArers did not receive tae
awards he hsd Recommended tor them.
secretary Daalsls refused 70 diaeUss The
letter furthef thep 20 say that puhlishsd
esserpts from y vefs substantially oereet-
Creates Sensation.
The lneidsnt hsa created something Of =
sensation In The navy department. Some
ohcsfs sald they assumed that amene hose
recsiving copiea % ihr admlfals letter wers
men vko had bsea rseommondsd for them
hy ths admiral
Secretary Of fhe Navy nsnisls today OF.
dered comprehensive report on award of
naval decorations prepared for the iniorlua.
tion Of Chairman Page of the senate naval
committee. Il uili include all recoumends
tiunn By individuals OF By boarda and tho
action by the boards and BY the secretary
himself upon she recommendation
The order was isued IN rusponse 10 . re-
guest from senator Pare which followed
criticism of the manner ia which some Of
the awards were distrihuted. Part of this
criticism was made By Rear Admiral Sims.
who commanded American naval forces over
seas during the var
Mr.. Danlsls declined 10 eomment or the
letter on the subject received BY him from
Admiral Sims further than 70 aay that pnb'
lishsd excerpts from the letter appeared 90
be substantially eor-sc, although he had not
had time To- rad the Communication care
fnlly In the letter Admiral sims declined
the decoration--a distinguished asretcs
iaedal--tsndsred to him personally on tho
ground that Injustice had hsea done some
olleara In the distribution of the awards.
Defsnds rrincipis.
'swhea the iist Of recommendation and
awards Il made puhlle.' sale Mr.. Daniels In
roferrine 10 the report 20 be seat 70 Senator
Page n have no donht The American peopie
wil approve ,hs prineipis followed and NJ
application of that pnneiple. =
Mr. Danisla addsd that the list q awards
already made public was 10 no waF Anal
that additions undoubtedly 'puid bc mEde
a. more recent recommendations were taken
up for confederation. end. wss rot ipipos
sihls that snme names might be removed
from the Published list
Last week reesised letter from "a.
Hon. c s Page. chasrman ~ the naval ~
fairs committee Of the senate NJ. D--.si.
said. requesting = copy Of the se-eallsd
! KNIGHT board recommendations Of awnrds-
II called up senator Pages once anu in
| formed the secretary Of bis committee tia
data was being collected and A soon a. 4
was ready I would b. pleased % farnish q
70 him
| Directions have been given 10 prepare
sts,smsnt concerning the following informa
tion;
31.-An recommendations for awards b
admirals. captains. and uthef eonH'and'Hi
ofbesrs
'.s-Ths action ef the board upon Al
such recommendations aud la eumpiete ft
'.s.-Ths action ,atsn By the department
''As soon a. this data is ready ut ma,
be collected literally from rsams of re'
ammsndatioas). u wiii be sent 20 Chsirma
Page aud given 70 the public
''Ths hsaras q avArds did not approx
1 all of the recommendations Of ths command
! ing omeern The SECRETARY aid not Kpprov
all the recommendations Of the board.
added nAmes Of ofAeers and enlisted me
who had performed conspicuous service. %
only way that fAlr-minded men can iudi
. the wisdom Of the awards ~ Tar annoeni 4
viii be 10 compare the lists.
Differences Likely.
II After every var there are. oi eeurs
differences Of opihlon a. 90 the awefd ~
tinctionA 1 remember the criticisms th
we're vaieed In the spanish American "a
!, After the landing Al Vera crur many media
were awarded 40 many In fact that q
statement was often made that no distin
tion was made between distinguished and .
dinary service A. that time l appros'
without change the recommendations sn
mltted 10 me. II became my duty, a u
3 close Of this war imposed BY act OF co
sress. to approve the a~ardina Of media
!. and distinetlons. ard I resolved that acii'
!, should be governed BY hssd principles ~
, all IN certain eiasaes should be rseoeni1'
aihr vas also resolved that most d
|, tinznisheA honor should be awarded tho
y who we're IN most peril and who suhrr
most And rendered the most distinguish
!, service. The Awards 80 far announced q
lowed this sound policy. The hnai a
I complete list has not been appreved
some recommendations were Ions delayed