Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-01-05

mere reading Of the plain recital II
each Of these TEN attacks ana the de-
meanor Of the commanding officer
viii leave no room to doubt that #
awards are 70 be given for GOODNESS
and Judgment in danger, disregard Of
personal safety and splendid cour-
age tn any men who gave glory 10
the navy III the world war. they
should go 30 air Ten Of these com
manding officers and dlstlncI nonors
should likewise 60 70 other brave Of
ticers and men under attack
We caunor give toe much honor
IL commanding officers Of surface
ships which were able 10 Sink or de-
sIroy 4 submarine The truth must
also ne recognized. however. that the
courage, skill. determination. re-
sourcefulness, foresight and judg-
rnen1 Of officers whose ships were tor
pedoed and suddenly sunk are put tn
quite as severe 4 test as II the cases
Of commanding officers of surface
ships which see and sink The enemy.
Nobody has suggested that an officer
should be honored because his ship
clear that when u ship is sunk the
commanding officer should De reward
I'd Il ne meets ms supreme Crisis
Win polsR. with utter feuriessness.
with thought Of his men above him.
self. with the utilization Of all those
attributes that show a man q nero
when the hour strikes for his su-
preTne trial To deny this principle is
10 deny one Of the bases of the NOR
al law. The greatest thing that man
ever does IN this world Is TO turn a
stumbling block into d stepping stone
If medals are not given for this sort
OF thing what on earth are they de-
signed for"
Incorporated in the letter We're the
records Of al the officers who lost
their vessels. including Commander
D. W BagIsy. brother of Mrs. Dan
leIs. and Commander Percy W F'oote.
the secretary S personal aide. about
whom much Of the controversy mas
conferred.
In Commander Bagley's case Mir
Admiral Sims IN connection with MS
approval Of the findings Of the court
rof inquiry convened 70 investigate
me loss OF Baeiey's ship.
'BagIeys handling of -ne situa-
lion after his ship was torpedeed was
everything that l. expected IN the
way of efficiency good Judgment
courage and chivalrous action" Ad-
u1l,-a Sims wroca
quiry We're THAI the commanding
officer, officers and men of the United
States steamship Jacob Jones bore
themselves II accordance with the
best traditions of the service and no
blame for responsibility for the iuss
OT the vessel attaches to them"
Secretary Daniels SAM tina. Rear
Admi-al Sims recommended Com
nander Bagiey for navy cross. the
knight board on naval awards ap-
proved the award and the Secretary
changed Il n common with the
awards Of ali other commanding Of
ficers of torpedoed shiDs except
Captain Easbrouck TO q distinguished
service medal.
FoOte. whose ship. tha President Lin
coin was struck ny three torpedoes
simultaneously and sunk II thirty
minutes. the Secretary quoted Ad-
nirai Sims report as follows:
The small loss Of life is due to
thorough discipline Of The ships
company and excellent seamanship
Of Commander Foute"
Admiral Gieaves repor, on the
case. the letter said. contained The
statement that the small loss OF life
was due I'd the splendid discipline OF
the ships companv and their fine
seamansnip under the gallant leader
ship OF Commander ?, W Foete."
Captain Madison, convoy CON-
mander, wrote that I'll was an in
spring slgnt to see the ship, her
stern aTasn and on the point of
sinking, with ner officers aboard and
guns still firing"
Admiral Gleaves recommended
Commander Foote for Distinruish-
ed Service Medal. the letter said, and
the recommendation was approved
Ivy Admiral Mayu. cornmander-in-
chief OF the United States feet and
by the knight board
In concluding his letter ID Senator
Page. Secretary Daniels said
When we shall have forgotten the
distinguished and honorable service
OF able and devoted officers ashore.
VINO will worthily wear the Distin-
gliailed Service Medal the ErliantllG
courage Of the men who met the
shock Of the submarine stiiettoes IN
afarid and demonstrated initiative,
valor and wisdom under such cir
cumstances as landsmen never know
these brave men and their deeds
will remain as living glory and an
honorable incentive 10 future naval