The New York herald., 1920-01-14
HOUSE VOTES
INQUIRY INTO
WAR AWARDS
Takes Action After Hearing
Representative Gallivan Scath-
lngly Denounce Gen. March.
Herald Bureau,
No. 1.5O@ III Street, N. W.,
Wash in gtOn. ID. C.. Tuesday.


resolution providing for n Congress
Sionai investigation of the awards Of the
Distinguished Service Medal and other war
time honors in tn, my passed the House
today by vote of 1873 TO 1873 The action
as taken following a bitter speech OF
denunciation Of the awards by Representa-
tive Gallivan. Democrat OF Massachu-
settes.
Mr. Galiivan charged that there had been
rank favortism shown In the distribution
ot awards: that the Board has not only
soteu medals for its individual members
ouI III numerous instances had honored
men who never had been In battle and
neglected men who rislSed their lives every
DAY Tor weeks AMI months. Mr. Gellivan's s.
a..ack was Followed by n speech Of Repre-
sentative De Walt, Democrat OF Pennsyl-
Vanla, who not only defended the awards
MADE, but criticized tie Massachusetts
member Tor making general charges in
winch no specific facts were cited Other
speeches defending the awards were made
by Representatives Bee, Democrat, OF
IeXas Steele, Democrat, of Pennsylvania
caldwell. Democrat, of New York and
Moore, Democrat of Virginia
me resolution adopted by the House
Calls upon the Secretary OF Wai to fur
L'sh complete list Of officers and men
recommended to receive the d. S. M, and
the citation In each case, a complete list
OF civilian d. S. NJ. awards. list Of names
OF officers making the awards and the
names of those On the Board who received
the award by the action Of the Board.
General March Attacked.
General Peyton C. March. Chief of Staff.
was prominent among those singled out
for criticism by Mr.. Gallivan. who also re-
ferred to the award made TO Major Cen
oral Leonard Wood and said 1t was given
IN such way as to erect IAN interro-
cation point in the minds of every one who
mas knowledge of General Woods treat
ment."
Mr.. Galuvan also said that the method
or awards ha seriously impaired the
morale of the army, that every man
In the a. Il. II. hated the regular army"
and that an investigation should be
made TO let the American people know
why that was tho case.
The reading of the citations award
Ing the ID. S. NJ. to swivel chair officers
or the General staff, who never left
Washington during the war, would GER
tainly, If believed. impress one with the
idea that the war was fought with red
ink at the mahogany desks near the
shadows of the Washington Monument
''ather than i'm the Argonne and the ST.
Hihiel sectors said Mr.. Galivan.
ficers who received these awards as
lounge lizards. lobby lanciers."
boulevard shock troops Of Paris, Chau-
mont and Tours" and similar epithets.
lie called General March the high
priest of Prussanism.' and compared
him with the Kaiser who said me und
Gott."
Not so your chief OF staff" said Mr..
Gallivan. who sees no reason for in
cluding 'Gott.''
The Representative also said that
General March was "the man the regu-
lar army believes has brought the en-
tire service into disrepute," and made
other severely critical remarks reflect
ing upon the ability and integrity Of
the chief of staff.
These were characterized as insults"
by Representative DeWalt, who lauded
the high sense Of honor" Of the chief
of staff, praised his efficiency and
fairness" and said he was entitled
to whatever honors had been given him.
During the debate Representative
Royal Johnson, Republican, of South
Dakota, charged that there was a
decoration ring" in the army and
urged that the whole matter should be
investigated.
THE country is entitled to know whether
these medals were won honestly and
fairly" he said Some officers who
decorations that they jingled like Polish
fourth of July celebration"
THAT statement jingles with generali-
ties" replied Representative De Walt, who
had the floor at the time. ut is not fair
for any one to come here and beittle the
glory won by the officers and men of the
A. T.. +. without citing a single fact to
substantiate such charges"
Then why oppose an investigation? p
asked Representa- tive johnson.
Representative Kahn. Republican, OF
California, explained that he believes the
Secretary of War is willing to furnish all
facts asked for by the resolution. that a
request for the facts had been made to
him. but that for lack OF time no reply
had been received
In summing UP the grounds for his nt-
tack upon the -. 5. NJ. awards, Mr.. CALI
van said
Thinks Morale shattered.
~ am advised that the morale of the
army as far as the enlisted men are con-
ccrned has been shattered almost beyond
belief The officer morale has been shat
tered because Of three particular reasons
first tho palpable display of favoritism
in selections for promotion and In making
citations and awards for medals; second,
the reduction of many distinguished Off
GERS TO junior grades upon their arrival
at the port of debarkation of the United
states. ana Dl1clnE Dltfl unutT Ine lInrt-
diate command of officers many years
their Junior and who had ont been out
side OF the United States during tho war.
This Is quite a common abuse. and tho
feeling in the army over II is intense
third the manner in which tho General
staff has handled the entire military situa-
ton. II has bunged the army personnel
with the total disregard of the human
element.
space for Medals EIifed.
IL cannot refrain from saying to this
House that Il is common talk in the army
whenever medal awards are discussed that
our present chief OF staff and one of his
ASSISTANTS. colonel whose duty il was tol
escort and dine foreign missions here in
Washington, have no space left between
their belts and their collars to display the
medals that have been given them as
result Of this service. and yet neither heard
y hostile shot throughout the entire period
OF the war
There ought not TO he any sound rea
son why the majority OF the two million !
mon who saw service overseas are not |
senuiue admirers OF the Regular Army. |
Yet they are not. Why. I ask again I?
General Pcrshing has his four stars Ad- /
hitting even the good things that have |
been done. and there were many such or |
else we could not have won this war. |
there should br M pbfetpfn,, 10