New-York tribune., 1920-01-24

~ stlC
commander of the Cruiser and Trans
port Force, supported by a confirming
recommendation by the commander-in-
chlet of the Atlantic fleet.
See no Permanent Injury
All Of the officers mentioned in the
foregoing part of Admiral knights
testimony were recomme nded for the
Distinguished Service Medal by Sec
rotary Daniels.
Although it was pain all three Of
ficers who testified to-day resented the
Secretary's disregard Of the boards
findings they did noc agree with .Ad-
mlral Sims that this action had dis
astrously affected the morale OF the
service.
Il have been in the navy fftv-one
years." said Admiral Badger, who was
commander in chief of the Atlantic
Fleet al the time of the taking of Vera
Cruz, and is now on the retired list. Il
was practically born in the navy, and |
am satisfied am right when | say the
good sense and loyalty Of the officers
and men IN the service will prevent
any permanent INJURY to the mora e
growing out OF this controversy. When
ever the principle Of selection appears
IN ii matter Of this kind and where large
numbers of individuals are involved.
dissatisfaction is bound to ensue. That
IS true not only OF the navy but of all
great organizations"
i have felt, and felt deeply" said
heAr Admiral CoIfman who during the
war was second in command OF the At
ian,lc Fleet. with the rank of viue-ad-
mlral, the fact that Of the eleven Off
GERS whom | recommended for the Dis
Nngulshed Service Medal, and who were
approved by the board, only three were
granted the decoration by the Secre-
tary OF the Navy. But I have such /.
frm belief in the morale and common
sense Of the navy that although be
lleve this matter may have a tempo
iary effect on the service I do not be
licvo it viii be lasting"
admiral Knight testified that only
eignt men were recommended by the
board Tor ,hc highly coveted reward OF
the congressional Medal OF Honor. a
decoration that is conferred only in
cases OF extreme heroism in actual
conflict with the enemy. In this list
OF eight We're two enlisted mono. X.
Ingram. gunner's mate, FIRST class. and
Gunnery Sergeant X. G.. Sullivan, OF
the aviation branch of the Marine
Corps. Although the Secretary limited
the awards of this decoration to the
number recommended by the board, he
substituted the name of Lieutenant
Commander J. J. Madison, naval re
serve officer commanding the e. S. S
Tlconderoga, for ingram, who was
awarded the DiStingui shed Service
Medal.
Medal Guarded Jea!ously
manifested by The board in guarding
tho integ,:t. Of the Medal of Honor
Admiral Knight said:
Among the case where tie cross
has been recommended By ,he board for
heroism not in conflict with the enemy
are many acts not inferior in heroism
to the most conspicuous Of those for
which the Medal Of Homer was awarded
aud differing from those acts only in
the fact that they did not involve ac-
tual contiict with the enemy. Many Of
these acts would have merited and re-
ccived the old Medal Of Honor (author-
izcd under the act Of Congress of
March 8, 1879. which might be given
Tor extraordinary heroism, whether in
conflict With the enemy or not.
"An interesting case illustrating this
point is that of an officer whose cita-
ZION as it appears in the report of the
Lieutenant (JGD John c. Foster
L. S. n. r. +. For extraordinary her
osm on the 24.h of July. 1918, as OBJ
server in an airplanc engaged in a
raid for bombing the enemy coast
near Bruges. Belgium. This machine
crashed to the ground and Licutenan
Foster was severely injured, his left
arm being dislocated and fractured
The machine, which carricd sixteen
fltN-pounA bombs. took fire. and it wa
known that the bombs were certain to
explode. In spite OF the great and
imminent danger the lieutenant un-
dertook to rescue the pilot, who wa
pinned under the wrcckagc. and sue
ceedcd IN removing him to distance
of about forty yards when all of the
bombs blew up
Secretary Changes Award
This is one of the most notabl,
cases Of extraordinary hcroism which
occurred during the war and one fol
which the board would have been gla,
70 recommend the Medal of Honor. but
this was not permissible under tn,
law, because the act was not performet
in conflict with the enemy. Nor was tbs
Distinguished Service Medal pormissi
bic, or appropriate. first, because the
act was not one involving great respon
slblity and again because it was, be
fore all things else, an act of heroism
and the Distinguished Service Medal j,
not the prescribed award for herois sm
"Thc Navy Cross was recommended
by the board on grounds which gave
it a significance far greater than an,
which would have attached to the Dis
tinguished Service Medal
The Secretary changed this award t,
The Distinguished Service Medal
Counsel to Be Allowed
Counsel will be employed by botl
sides in the controversy when The con
test takes place before the Senate sub
committee. it was indicated tonight
when tentative agreement was rcachct
h1 ,,,l, cl, tl,n "a