New-York tribune., 1919-11-01
Navy D.S.M. Winner
Accused of Taking
Credit From Others
Geo. O. Manley Charges 1t.
Com. Clark Was Cited for
Seizure of Enemy Goods
MadV by Customs Officials

Lieutenant Commander X. W. Clark,
now ordnance officer of the battleship
Florida, who was gazetted for a Dis
tinguished Service Medal last month by
the Navy Department, accepted credit
for work done by customs officials, ac-
cording to a letter to The Tribune from
George O. Manley, a customs inspector,
The naval officer had charge Of
ordnance work at the navy yard. and
on more than one occasion was credited
with having discovered and converted
to the use Of the American navy guam
titles Of munition machinery owned by
Germany. Manley declares it was he
who found this machinery, and much
other material of similar character IN
warehouses on the waterfront in 1917,
and that Clark at no time figured in
any Of the seizures.
Josephus Daniels. Secretary Of the
Navy, declined yesterday, in Washing
ton. to comment on Manlcy's charge
except to say that all such recon-
mendat}ons were presented only after
thorough Investigation by the Bureau
OF Navigation.
Deputy Customs Collector Stuart said
MaNlcy had made a report OF the case
IN September, 1913, but it was a pri-
vate matter and could not be made
public. Nh Manley's letter follows
I'm an article in your paper in May
1918, and repeated in the issue OF
September 23, You credit Lieutenant
discovery and seizure Of a quantity Of
muntionmAking machinery, supposed
to be owned by Germany.
"As a matter of fact, Lieutenant
Commander Clark IS not entitled &c
any credit for the discovery and seizure
Of this machinery. The facts are as
follows;
The writer was in immediate charge
Of the customs forces that seized anG
guarded the German ships and piers
IN in hqhohX IN waaehopss owned 1ms by by
Gated on the pier property | found q
quantity of turret lathes, planers anG
other machinery used i'll making muni
tions, in cases and marked for expor,
to Holland and Sweden. lnvestiga tor
convinced me that this stuff was J.
tended for Germany. | referred the
matter to the navy representative al
the Collectors office, Lieutenant Com
mandcr Jossop He came over, IN
spccted the goods, said that the navy
had vital need OF just such matcria
and that as the manufacturers were
tied up with prior orders they were
unable to supply same.
"Ileutenan, commander Jessop trleC
to get the Navy Department to seiz,
tic machinery. As the exporters were
clamoring to get possession of this
material. and as Mr.. Jessop was unable
TO get action from the Navy Depart
ment, seized the whole consignment
and held same on the piers from thai
time (early in April. 1910 until tn,
following August. when the navy finally
ordered the goods sent 10 the navy
yard
AT the time that discovered thi.
machinery II occurred TO me that ther,
was probably other similar material il
other warehouses along the waterfront
so paid II visit to the Campbell Store.
III Hoboken, found it full of simila,
material, enlarged il and reported m,
action to the deputy collector ii
charge. George t. Lamb, with the Sug
gestion that the other warehouses b,
searched for similar shipments.
This suggestion was acted upon !,
November or December Of 1917 By Lieu
tenant Gass. who was conversant witt
the situation through his former con
nectiop with Mr.. Lambs office. At nc
time did Lieutenant Commander Clarl
hgure in the matter. and when he cooll>
accepted a cOmmendation from Secre
tary Daniels for a seizure that he die
not make, IN my oDinion he acted in
manner unbecomjng an ofticer IN the
United States Navy