The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-08
Discloses Wide Difference With Admiral on Accept ance of Foreign War Dec oratiOns By American Naval Officers - Sims Wanted His
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Washington. February 7.-Conclud- ing his testimony today before the Sen ate subcommittee Investigating the award of naval decorations. Secretary Daniels disclosed the fact that a wide difference of opinion existed between himself and Rear Admiral Sims dur ing the war on the question of the ac- ceptance of foreign honors and decora- tions by American naval officers. The admiral, who favored such decorations while Mir. Daniels opposed them. will again be before the committee on Tues day.
 Members of tho committee, read to Mir Daniels highly commendatory statements he made in recommending that Admiral Sims be made a permA- Secretary Daniels declared he would nent admiral for his war services not now make such recommends tion as developments since his original action had caused him to change his mind. He cited what he characterized as Admiral sims efforts to magnify the achievements of the British army and navy in the war and to minimize the results obtained by the United States forces, injudicious statements contained in a recent series of articles by Ad- miral Sims regarding the nayy's part Tn the war, including a gratuitious re- flection on the whole Irish race" and the officers action in having made pub lie official instructions of highly con hdential nature as having led to a change in his views regarding special promotion for Admiral Sims
 WAIVER REGULATIONS MT. Daniels said he had waived reg ulations requiring officers to submit ! articles to the depar tment before pub 1 lication because he wished to show | Admiral Sims every consideration and 1 courtesy" and expected the articles to be confined strictly to American naval 1 participation in the war.
 1 AH am very sorry now that I l. gave Rear Admiral Sims this inti-
 tude, and that did not require
 him to submit his articles Ia the
 department" Secretary Daniels
 said.
 Chairman Hale placed in the record 3 letter from Carlos V. Cusachs, formerly a lieutenant commander in the navy |
 during part of the war. Cusachs saie
 he was recalled after Ambassador Will
 lard had cabled the state departmen
 that Mir. Urgoiti, owner of a MaR.t' newspaper, had informed the arnbas
 sador that Cusac&s had told him tn United States contemplated establish ing naval bases in Spain. the ambas j sador's message, adding, he said, tha "Cusachs' indiscretion is fatal to ou interests"
 DENIED STATEMENT
 The Spanish editor, Cusachs said, il
 letter to him latter, denied he hai
 ever made the statement attributed t
 him by Ambassador Willard Tn
 am bassador's behavior in telling hin goodbye. the former officer wrote . was "a piece of hypocritical acting. sucl as would put Judas to shame"
 Senator Pittman, democrat, Nevada , protested against the introduction O . the Cusachs' statement as not perti nent to the inquiry. but Chairman Hal replied that Ambassador Willard woul
 be given an opportunity to deSend him , self if he desired.
 Secretary Daniels had no comment t , make He said Cusachs and Read Ad miral Decker, his chief had both bee } recalled becausel they were unable t e get along with the ambassador an , that such action was ordinary maya policy in the case of attaches 7 Debate of the peace treaty. of tn q navy's conduct of the war. of Admire 7 Sims literary ability. and many othe
 subjects consumed much of the com . mittees time while Chairman Hal e made intellectual efforts to get tn q hearing back on the subject of decora e tions. Asked by Chairman Hale. how ' ever for the changing of recomme nda r on naval morale. as Admiral Sims ha S charged, Secretary Daniels replied, "ne T that much" snapping his fingers. ''Wouldn't such a policy cause som a heartburn" asked Chairman Hale. : MORALE NOT AFFECTED ,- "It might cause some heartburn,s
 replied Secretary Daniels, "but heart l. burn would not affect the morale of
 men like those who manned our
 ships; it might affect the people
 who want to wear medals nnd rib
 bons, but there arn't many of t them."
 Secretary Daniels said some one hs
 to justify and standardize the awai l. of medals and that he did it himse It with the aid of the Knight board. r. Chairman Hale challenged Secretal ,f Daniels action In awarding medals n commanding officers of ships sunk .e damaged by the enemy.
 m The Secretary reiterated his purpoi le
 tContinued on Page Eieven)