Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-01-21
ATTEMPT IN SENATE
TO CONDEMN SIMS
MEETS OBJECTION
sflmmediate Consideration"
of Resolution by Walsh
of Montana Refused.
LODGE AND MCCORMICK
DELAY ITS PROGRESS
Admiral's Action Deserving of
Universal Disapproval," Is
Senator's View.

Universal Disapproval," Is
Senator's View.
resolution declaring that the ac-
ton of Rear Admiral Sims in making
public official instructions of the
most confidential character" affect
ing international relations. deserved
the condemnation of all Americans
was introduced in the Senate today
by Senator Walsh. democrat. Mon
tana. member of the naval COM
mittee
His request for immediate consid .
Grafton was denied on objection of
Republican Leader Lodge
Quotes From Letter.
The resolution quoted from the let
ter read by Admiral Sims before the
Senate committee investigating naval
decorations. in which the admiral said
that before he left the United States
for Europe i'm March 1917. he was told
by high naval official not % ''let the
British pull the wool over your eyes !,
IL is none of our business pulling their
chestnuts out of the fire: we would as
soon fight the British as the Germans.
Admiral Sims must have and did con-
slider these instructions. if they ever
were given, to be of the most highly
confidential character, the resolution
said. adding that his action in making
tEc-n PUBIC teSeFNcu UNIVERSAL diio
unqualified disapproval.
Il cannot but believe that whether
the above admonition was or was not
given to Admiral Sims the disclosure
under almost any circumstances must
receive the iiSapproval of every
American" said Senator Walsh.
Objection by Two Senators.
Senator Mccormick. republican. ILL
noiS. declared the resolution affected a
matter that was to he later tnveSti
gated by a subcommittee. and Senator
Lodge objected to consideration OF the
resolution on the ground that it con-
tanned grave charges against one of
the most prominent officers in the
American Navy without giving him an
opportunity to defend himself. --
Replying to an inquiry by Senator
Borah. republican. idaho. whether
Admiral Sims volunteered his letter.
Chairman Hale of the decorations sub
committee said:
The admiral produced 1t because 1
insisted and \ am entirely willing to
take ali responsibility"
Declaring that Admiral Sims could
the fssssfs prodSeglon. Senator sorsh.
said he. could not censure eithef thbi
admiral or Secretary Daniels for any
actions, disclosed
Il think were making mountain
out of a molehill in this entire AFFAIR"
he added.
Inc warning given AdUllFdl SlTlS
against letting the British pull the
wool over his eyes was commended
by Senator Borai
Senator Hale interjectcd that he had
rot seen the letter prior to its read
ing by Admiral Sims. and Senator
Walsh replied that thu admire, had it
conveniently at hand"
Regrets Scrrctary'S Denial.
Il don't find anything to censure
either Secretary Daniels or tho Admir-
al said MIR. Borah. 1T was very
proper admonition ard | regret that
the Secretary has denied it,
Senator Walsh said the whole ques-
ton was over disclosure of confidential
order by the admiral and Senator
Thomas. democrat. Colorado. said it
seems to him that there was gross
violation of somebody's confidence"
Senator Phelan. democrat. Califor-
MIA, inquired whether the committees
Investigation proposes to consider
censure of Admiral Sims il he acted
improperly. and Senator Hale replied
that the whole field would be covered,
including general investigation of the
naval matters
Vice President Marshall interviewed
and suggested that further discussion
was out of order, because of Senator
Lodges objections to consideration of
the Walsh resolution before tomor-
row.
Mai. Gen. Barnett Takes Isxuc.
Before the committee Investigating
the award of naval war decorations
MAJ. Gen. Barnett. commandment of
the Marine Corps. took issue with
previous statements by Admiral Sims
TO the committee that the controversy
had arisen because Secretary Daniels
had not promulgated a well defined
policy to govern awards. There was
no need Tor a policy promulgated by
the Secretary regarding medal
awards" he said. because the law
authorizing the decorations was sum
eIently explicit to guide commanding
oricers IN submitting their recon-
mendations"
His own recommendations as tn
marine officers who served in the
United States were not followed in the
majority of cases, Gen. Barnett said
and he had expressed regret to Mr.
Daniels.
Had to Draw Line Somewhere.
mfr. Daniels told me-" said Gen
Barnett, that he was sorry every
man in the Navy and Marine Corns
could not be given a medal that thew
had all performed excellent service
and deserved recognition but that
the line had to be drawn somewhere
if the value of the medals was not
to ne deprecated. | then asked and
received permission to forward a let
ter making all of my original recon-
mendations over again, and thew are
now being reconsidered by the knight
board. | believe"
Every marine who served in the
northern aerial bombing group who
was recommended by him for a dis
tingulshed service medal received the
award, Gen. Barnett told the commit
tee. while only two or three of the
marines recommended for their sery-
Ice on TINS slde were approved by the
board and the Secretary
made my recommendations so
conservative that any one who re-
ceived one of the medals on nv rec
concentration could feel he got some
thing worth while" Gen Barnett sa;d
II do not feel that the Knight hoard
should have consulted me before
a OF nv