The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1920-01-05
Secretary Daniels
Tells Why Foote and
'Bagley Got Navy d. S. M.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

T. Client. of the Antilles; Capt. S. W
Graham. " the Finland: Commander
w. T Conn. jr.. OF the Alcedo: Capt.
II. Fl. Christy. of the u. S. S. San
Diego: Capt. ID. f. Dismukes. of the
Mount Vernon: Capt. II. II. Satterlee.
of the U. S. S. Tampa. and Capt ]. V.
CN~-e - u S. S. Minnesota
Mr.. Daniels takes a considerable
rap at Capt Hasbrouck of the U. s.
s. Minnesota He said he was the
only one who did not merit the Dis
tinguished Service Medal. In this con-
nection. the Secretary says:
These awards. as | have stated in
my previous letter. were made with
out exception to every commanding
officer whose ship felt the blow of the
enemy except one who was court
martialed, and who. though fully ac-
quilted. had no recommendation from
any superior officer for recognition of
any character Admiral Wilson stated
officially that the failure of Capt.
Hasbrouck to return to his ship at
daylight with a salvage party was an
offense more serious than any error
of Judgment and Admiral Gleaves
stated officially that. though the court
fully acquitted him. my own opinion
Is such that ! cannot recommend him
a
q cross
However. because of his previous
service in the transportation of
troops, and without reference to his
action after the ship was torpedoed.
Capt Hasbrouck was selected by my
direction for a Naval Cross, the same
as was awarded to commanding Off
GERS of other transports. Capt Has
brouck writes he does not desire to
accept this medal
Those who Lost ships.
In Justification of his policy in
awarding medals to men who had lost
their ships. Mr.. Daniels has this to
say:
I'VE cannot give too much honor 20
the commanding officers of surface
ships which were able to sink or de-
stroy submarine. The truth must
also be recognized. however, that the
courage, skill. determination, re-
sourcefulness, foresight and Judgment
of officers whose ships were torpedoed
and suddenly sunk are put to quite
as severe a test as in the cases of
commanding officers of surface ships
which see and sink the enemy.
Nobody has suggested that an Of
fcer should be honored because his
II Is clear that when a ship is sunk
the commanding officer should be re-
warded IL he meets this supreme
crisis with poise. with utter fearless
ness. with thought for his men above
himself. with the utilization of all
those attributes that show a man a
ZERO when the hour strikes for his
supreme trial
TO deny this principle is to deny
one Of the bases of the moral law
The greatest thing that a man ever
does in this world is to turn a STUN
bling block into a stepping stone. II
medals are not given for this sort
OF thing what on earth are they de-
signed for?"
With regard to Commander Bagley.
Secretary Daniels letter points out
that his behavior was commended by
the board Of inquiry that investigated
the sinking OF the Jacob Jones and
also by Admiral Sims. Commander
Bagley was recommended for the
navy cross, but Secretary Daniels
thought he merited the distinguished
service cross and so awarded il. On
this point, he says:
Commander Bagley was recon-
mended by Admiral Sims for the
navy cross and the board of awards
recommended the award of a navy
cross. This medal. however, was
awarded on the general citation which
was given all commanding officers of
the destroyers whose services had
been satisfactory in the war zone and
was not based on the performance of
duty when the Jacob Jones was at
4 and no definite recommends
ton was made with reference to this
occurrence
In view of the principle and policy
that all commanding officers whose
ships were attacked in the war. zone
and whose conduct after enemy at
tack had been reported meritorious
should be awarded the distinguished
service medal. he was named among
those to receive PIE medal"