The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-12-23
ADMIRAL sims
| REFUSES MEDAL
Says He Cannot Accept, in
Justice to Men Who
Served Under Him.

Washington, Dec. 2s.--U. N. s.)--
Secretary Of the. Navy Daniels today
stated that he has received letter from
Admiral Sims, commander In chief Of
the American naval forces In European
waters during the war, In which the
admiral refused to accept the DIS
itlnuulshed service medal awarded him.
The secretary stated that he had not
replied to the letter.
'x Admiral Sims refused to accept the
medals on grounds that the awards
had mot been made according to the
smanner In which he believes they
should have been maze and in justice to
the men who served under him he can
not accept.
Admiral Sims in his letter stated that
he felt ''impelled to invite attention
to q special class awards which are the
subject of such condemnation and ridi-
cule that the effect upon the present
and future morale of the service must
necessarily be deplorapie to the last
degree"
Forecasts Discomfort.
The letter continued:
"This must necessarily result in
serious discomfort and sense Oh m
Justice. The commanding oficer Oh
q vessel tnat is sunk by u submarine
should not receive the same rewards as
the commanding officer OF a vessel
which sinks q submarine" Some OIL the
recomme ndatIonS for awards which Ad-
miral Sims made were disregarded. VI
the Nineteen members OF his own stan
recommended for medals, but six were
L.A - l.et Tsa
awards have been affected by outside
influence.
Secretary Daniels issued this state
mentAas his only comment last week:
Il received letter from Hon. G. s.
Page, chairman of the naval affairs
committee. OF the senate. requesting the
copy of the so-called knight boards rec
omnlenda ton of awards.
II called up Senator Pages Office and
informed the secretary of his commit
tee that data was being collected and
as soof rs it was ready l would be
pleased TO furnish it to him.
''Direttions have been given to pre-
pare 4 6fatement containing the follow
ing. tfoEniation: ,ou
All recommendations for
watyd& Fby admirals, captains, and
othXr commanding officers.
The action Of the board upon
alt fec0jnmendations and its COM
DIEIF|IEH0It.
THE action taken by the de-
'.Asfsoon as this data Is ready II
must feA DpiIected literally from reams
of rec0I1lmeridations) 1t will be sent to
Chair11lhn Page and given to the pub
s"Ila bSard awards did not approve
all MINE recommendations of the
comIn4i11lpg officers. The secretary did
not 4{i1<0ye of all of the recommenda-
tions Ut the board; he added names oi
off1cefH and enlisted men who had per-
formed conspicuous service. The only
way tHat fair-minded men can Judge
fSnnoad wv be to. compare thu. LIST,
Differences of Opinion.
after every war there are. of course
differences of opinion as to the awards
for distinction. I remember the crit'-
cisms that were voiced IN the Spanish
American war. Aftsr 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 sand ordi-
nary service At that time 7 approved
without change the recommendations
submitted to me. 1t became my duty
at the close of the war. imposed hy
ing Of medals and distinctions, and
resolved that action should be gov
erned by fixed principles and all ir
certain classes should he Recognized
alike. I was also resolved that the most
distinguished honors should be awarded
those who We're in most peril and who
suffered most and rendered the most
distinguished service. The awards So
far announced follow this sound policy
and when the list OF recommendation
and awards Is made public have nC
doubt that the American people will
approve the principle followed and the
application of that principle. The fina
and complete list has not been ap-
proved, for some recommendations were
long delayed"
Secretary Daniels said that recon
mendations made for awards by Ad
mirals Mayo and Wilson had been dis
approved. as well as some of those
made by Admiral Sims He stated
that Admiral Benson was the only person
who has vet been actually decorated.
Newport. r. T.. Dec. 23.-Rear Ad.
miral Sims declined today to discus.
in any phase his letter to Secretary
Daniels critioizins the reported awards
of naval decorations. The fact tha
such a letter had been sent however
was known TO friends of the admira
here.