Evening star., 1919-12-28
Text of Letters of Naval
Officers Declining HOnOrS

mander was directly responsible.
During the time from April / until
the signing of the armistice only
one transport missed the sailing
date set by. the department and
the force commander, and her
missing was due to the non-arrfvaI
of absolutely necessary material.
In addition to the duties as
transport division commander. on
August 20. 1918, all floating equip
ment belonging to the Army. Navy
and shipping board in the Hamp-
ton roads district was pooled for
operation under me as adminis-
traitor. The responsibility for the
operation of this floating equip
ment rested entirely with the ad-
ministrator and was to that extent
independent.
1t is submitted that il the dis
charge of these highly responsible
and largely Independent duties was
so successful as to meet the de-
partments approval the RESPONSE
BILE officer should be recognized
ommenSuratefy; and those Subor-
dinates whom he recommended as
having contributed directly to that
success should also be recognized.
If, on the contrary, the duties out
lined above were not successfully
carried out to the satisfaction of
the department, there should be no
award of decorations. The success
or non-SucceSS of these duties I
leave to the record of achievement
and to the recommendation of the
commander cruiser and transport
force.
In view Of the above. ! feel it my
duty to the dignity and Importance
of the forces operated and the
work accomplished by them to re-
quest that the recommendation of
the award of the Navy cross to me
be Cancelled, and that such award
be not made.
HILARY P. JONES.
Rear Admiral Deeker's Letter.
1t has been brought to my at
tention by public notices that have
been recommended for reward Of
the Navy cross.
In my opinion, this award is en-
tirely inadequate to the services
that were performed by the Office
of naval attache and those who
worked with me. The effect Of this
work was to keep Spain from en-
tering the war against US at the
time OF the enemy March offensive
of 1918. also a reduction of the
submarine activities off the coast
of Spain.
If my estimate Of the situation
is incorrect and I am mistaken a.
to the work done, then I feel that
a cross should not be awarded for
my services. While it may be i'm
possible to prove that the work
done did produce the results claim
ed. / have been assured that this
was the case.
This letter is not written in any
spirit of lt-finding or objection
to the award of the board that was
not desire honors to which I am
not entitled; on the other hand. I
feel that it is just. feeling as do,
not to permit the services of the
officers and men who were asso-
ciated with me to be taken SO
lightly The work done by Mr..
F. ]. Marion, Mr.. w. A. Shadburne
and Mr.. Howell was of the greatest
value to the country.
If my estimate is correct, my
services and the services Of those
who worked with me, in spite of
the opposition of the ambassador,
are certainly greater than the work
done by any single bAttleship In
the war or by any official stationed
on shore duty in an administrative
capacity.
The recommendations that made
for crosses for the personnel were
made after very careful consid-
GRAFTON.
BENTON C. DECKER.
Capt. r. De L. HasbrOuckAs Letter.
In view of my strong personal
conviction of the fitness and JUS
tice of Admiral Sims summing up
= of the underlying reasons for the
award of naval honors, and as set
forth in articles fifteen and sixteen
of his letter of II December. 1919.
request that my name be stricken
from the list Of awards OF the
Navy cross. r.
= I have a higher regard for Ad-
miral Sims views on matters at
fecting the morale Of the naval
service than those of any other
officer. Concurring SO unreserved-
ly in his views. I cannot, consist
emily and with honesty to myself
accept an honor which personally
feel is undeServed.
r. DE L. HASBROUCK.