Arizona republican., 1920-01-05

it was 10 lose his ship without loss of prestige and with the satisfaction of receiving expressions of high appre- citation of their countrymen-
 Tt is. of course. the victory in battle which gives highest glory but medals of distinction are awarded for .eXcep- tionally meritoriouS service and Law renee was not less deserving of a na- tion's gratitude when his ship was lost to his country than was Perry, who. leaving his sinking ship. won victory after transferring his flag from the Lawrence to the Niagara. Indeed Perry and all his gallant and victor ious crew who were inspired to win victory by the immortal words of Law renee. for Perry had adopted Law rence's dying words as the shibboleth on his flag: Don't give up the ship
 Discusses Hasbrouck Case
 Ten commanding officers of ships torpedoed and sunk or put out of ac- tion were selected as worthy of receiv ing the distinguished service medal These awards, l stated in my pre- vious letter. were made without eXcep- ton to every commanding officer whose ship felt the blow of the enemy except one who was courtmartialed and who, though fully acquitted. had no recommendation from any superior officer for recognition of any character Admiral Wilson stated officially that the fate of Captain Hasbrouck to re- turn to his ship al daylight with salvage was an offense more serious than an error of judgment and Ad- miral Gleaves stated officially that | though the court fully acquitted him my own opinion is such that I cannot recommend him for the award. either for a medal or a cross However, be cause of his previous service in the transportation of troops and without reference to his action after his ship was torpedOed. Captain HaSbrouch was selected by my direction for a naval cross, the same was awarded to commanding officers of other trans ports. Captain Hasbrouck writes he does not desire to accept the medal.
 Instructions have been given for the fullest investigation with the view Of further awards to other officers and men on these and other ships who rendered meritorius service by reason of attack by enemy ships. Some of these would have been announced be- fore now except for the reconvening of the board of awards to consider all meritorius service and make further recommendations. Late and incom plete reports have necessarily delayed full justice to all who deserve recog- nition. But. though postponed, it will be given and the highest honors should go to those who felt the shock of the enemy successfully or otherwise when courage and good judgment were shown rather than to those who ren- dered service ashore in places of less responsibility.
 Uphods D. S. M. Awards
 'I am appending brief statement of the cases where the distinguished service medals were announced where ships were torpedoed or came in con tact with mines and were either sunk or put out of action. A mere reading of the plain recital in each of these ten attacks and the demeanor of the com manding officer will leave no room to doubt that if awards are to be given for coolness and judgment in danger, disregard of personal safety and Splen- did courage to any men who gave glory to the navy in the world war, they should go to all ten of these command ing officers and distinct honors should likewise go to other brave officers and men under attack.
 We cannot give too much honor to the commanding officers of surface ships which were able to sink or de- stroy submarine. The truth must also be recognized, however, that the courage, skill. determination resource fuiness foresight and judgment of of ficers whose ships were torpedoed and suddenly sunk are put to quite as se- were test as in the cases of com manding officers of surface ships which see and sink the enemy. Nobody udS SuS SStSlcQ ludl 3Il SnOuIl pc honored because his ship was sunk by submarine. But it is clear that when a ship is sunk the commanding officer should be rewarded if he meets this supreme crisis with boise, utter fear lessness, with thought of his men above himself, with the utiliza ton of all those attributes that show a man a hero when the hour strikes for his supreme trial. To deny this principle is to deny one of the bases of the moral law The greatest thing that a. man ever does in this world is to turn a stumbling block into stepping stone If medals are not given for this sort of thing what on earth are they designed for?''
 Incorporated in the letter were the records of all of the officers who lost their vessels. including Commander D. w. Bagley. nephew of Mrs. Daniels. and Commander Percy w. Foote, the secretary's aide, about which much of the controversy has centered.
 Quotes Sims Letter
 In Commander Bagley's case, MT. Daniels quoted from a letter by Rear Admiral Sims. in connection with his approval of the findings of the court in inquiry convened to investigate the loss of Bagley's ship.
 "Bagley's handling of the situation after his ship was torpedoed was everything that l expected in the way of efficiency. good judgment, courage and chivalerous action" Admiral Sims wrote.
 The finding of the court of inquiry were that "the comma nding officer officers and men of the United States steamship Jacob Jones bore themselves in accord with the best traditions of the service and no blame or responsi- bility for the loss of the vessel attaches 10 them"
 Secretary Daniels said that Admiral Sims recommended Commander Bag ley for navy cross, the Knight Board on Naval awards approved the award and the secretary changed it in com mon with the awards of all other com manding officers of torpedoed ships except, Captain Hasbrouck, to a Dis tinguished Service medal.
 Reviewing the case of Commander Foote, whose ship, the President Lin- coin, was struck by three torpedoes simultaneously and sunk in thirty