Evening star., 1920-02-08
DANIELS CHANGES
MIND As TO HIGHER
/, GRADE fGS sims
Would Not Recommend Per-
manent Rank of Admiral
for Officer Now.


Secretary Daniels of the Navy yes
terday told the Senate naval affairs
subcommittee Investigating the awards
of naval decorations that a wide dit
ference of opinion existed between
himself and Rear Admiral Sims dur
ing the war. on the question OF tht
acceptance Of foreign honors ana
decorations by American naval ohicerS
He said that Admiral Sims favored
the acceptance OF such honors. but
that he opposed il. Secretary Dan
iels concluded his testimony yester-
Gay. Admiral Sims Will appear before
the committee again Tuesday.
Members of the committee read TO
MIR. Daniels highly commentators
statements he made in recommenulnS
that Admiral Sims be made perma-
nent admiral for his war services
Secretary Daniels declared that he
would not now make such recon-
menda lion. as developments since ms
original action had caused him to
change his mind. He cited what he
characterized Admiral Sims et-
forts to ma gnify the achievements OF
the British army and navy in the war
and to minimize the results obtained
by the United States forces, inJudi-
cious statements contained IN a re-
cent series of articles by Admiral
Sims regarding the Nays part IN the
war. including gratious reflection
on the whole Irish race, and the OF
fcer's action in having made public
official instructions of highly con
fidential nature IS having led to
change in his views regarding spe-
cial promotion for Admiral Sims.
showed Admiral Courtesy.
Mr.. Daniels said he had waived reeu
lations requiring officers to submit ar
ticIes to the department before pub
lication because he wished to SHOW
Admiral Sims every consideration and
courtesy and expected the articles
to be confined strictly to American
naval participation in the war.
Il am very sorry now that | gave
Rear Admiral Sims this latitude and
that l did not require him to submit
his articles to the department.. Sec
retary Daniels said.
Chairman Hale placed in the record
a letter from Carlos V. Cusachs. for
merry a lieutenant commander in the
Navy and assistant naval attache %
Spain during part of the war. Cusachs
said he was recalled after Am5a assador
Willard had cabled the state Depart
ment that a Mr.. Crgoiti. owner of a
Madrid newspaper. had Informed the
amba ssador that Cusachs had told him
the United States contemplated esta5-
fishing naval bases in Spain, the am
bassador's message aduing, he said.
that "CusachS ind secretion is fatal TO
our interests" The Spanish editor.
denied that he had ever lnnde tns :
statement attributed to him by Am
bassador willard. The ambassador |
behavior in tellir lin goodbye. the
former officer <. was "a piece of
hypocritical acting. such as would put
Judas to shame"
Objected to Statement.
Senator Pittman. democrat. Nevada
protested against the introduction o. i
the Cusachs statement as not pertinent |
to the Inquiry. LGt Chairman daie re- !
piled that Ambassador Wizard would b. |
given an opportunity to deIend II msei; /
if he aeSireu.
Secretary Daniels had no comment to |
maNe, ns. Ssl0 .sls..c..S stnu ..ear Ao- |!
miral Decker. his chef. had both been /,
recalled because tney were unable 10 gel i
along with the ambassador. and tndt
such action N..s oroInary naval policy |,
in the case OF attaches.
Debate of the peace treaty, of the
Nays conduct oil the war, OF Admiral
Sims literary aDiiIty ana man! o,ue,
subjects CONSUMED much of the commit
tees time, whine Chairman Hale made F.;
Intellectual efforts to get the hearing
back OF the subject of decora tionS !
Asked by Chairman Hale, however, if
the changing OF recommendations for
medals did not have an effect on naval
morale, as Admiral Sims had charged
Secretary Daniels replied Not that
much swapping his fingers.
Wouldn such IL policy cause some
heartburn, asked Chain man Hale
1T might cause some heartburn, re-
piled Secretary Iai..e., ..t ne.r. ,bu, /.
would not AFFECT the ino.;,i OF men liN
those who manned Our sh'ps-, might
anect tnc Peop.,- ...-v ~
medals and ribbons. but there aren't
many of them.
Secretary Daniels said that some one
hAd to justify and standa rd. .ze the award
Of medals. and that he did il himself.
with the aid of the Knight board.
Will stick to Policy.
Chairman Hale challenged Secretary
Daniels action in awarding medals TO
commanding officers OF ships sunk or
damaged by the enemy. The Secretary
reiterated his purpose to reward courage
and professional ability, whether the
men lost the ships or not.
Il intend to stick to that policy: that
is what medals are ror,' he added with
some feeling.
Chairman Hale showed disposition
to dwell particularly on the case OF
Commander ID. w. BaSley, the Secre-
tary's brother -in-law. whose destroyer
Jacob Jones, was sunk b. submarine
That case is just IKE all the Others"
Mr. Daniels said Let the record
speak for ITSELF
OF Rear Admiral Decker. who de-
clined the Navy cross awarded him be-
cause he contended iC was not propor-
tionate to his services at Madrid. Sec
Rotary Daniels declared he was "a
patriotic and sincere officer. but was
always having differences of opinion
with the ambassador"
If he did have sufficient control
over the Spanish government to keep
that nation out of the war il doesn't
become him to say So" Mr.. Daniels
added.
In Response to question from
Chairman Hale as TO the coming In
yestigation of the Navys conduct of
the war. Secretary Daniels said he
would order all the officers wanted to
testify from the Asiatic, If neces-
sary," but would not order any one
to Washington Ito help Admiral Sims
make q case"
He has made charges" said Sec
retary Daniels, and l will call off,
GERS here who are needed to testify:
but will not order one single officer
here simply to help him make his
case"