The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-01-27
MORE SENSATIONAL
CHARGES NOW MADE
AGAINST NAVAL men

WASHINGTON. Jan. "5-Thc Navy
Department tonight made public tcic-
gram received under date Of January
80. from Mr.. Rathom and Assistant Sec
rCtarv RooScvcltS answer thereto. sent
January 2$. The Providence editor re-
fcrring TO 4 recent stutCUcnt by Sccrc-
tary Roosevelt, tclcEraphed:
Il very greatly regret your unwar-
rantcd and amazing attack on the lrovi-
dcnCc Journal and myself In bringing
these matters to the attention of the
Senate committee Of naval AFFAIRS. we
are performing what we conceive To be
public duty for the protection of the
honor Of the United States navy. which
officials Of the Navy Department have
sought 10 undermine by the most bcstial
and diShonorablc methods known I"
man. Many boys wearing tho uniform
Of tho United States navy have been
forced into tn" position Of moral per
rcrts by specific orders of officers in
the navy department and these con-
CtitiCnS were known to the secretary OF
the navy and yourself months ago.
I'VE have not now. and never have had
any intcrcsi whatever in thiS matter
outside Of the performance Of high ser
vice. We resent your unwarranled and
false charges against us and intend In
sought or inspired. the truth Of every
statement that we have made"
To this telegram, Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt replied:
TN view Of IN" fact that YOU know at
all times tha, they Navy Department at
no time condoncd alleged practices COM
planned of by citizens of Newport. in
view Of the fact that you knew the de-
partmcnt was TO order complete inNcsti-
CATION by competent court Of inquiry the
very moment the department OF justice
had completed trial in their hands in
.f.,,. pf h., N.nt ~
vcstiGation was actually ordered and un-
der way and in tho hands of thoroughly
competent naval officers. for these rcaS-
ons your public attack on the navy was
diSingenuouS and diShonorablc. You
know that officials and officers in Wash
iugton never ordered or condoncd high
ly improper methods ot investigation
alleged. You knew officers and men in
volvcd would be punished If guilty
Il cannot conceive. in view OF your
having this knowledge at hand. how you
can square your conscience with the
morally dishonest attack made by you"
: Naval Probe Held Up
WASHINGTON. Jan. "6-DcmoCratic
opposition blocked action today on the
Republican, Maine, authorizing employ
mcnt of legal counsel and clerical as
SiStanCc for the Sub-Committcc inreSti-
eating naval awards and the navy's
conduct Of tho war.
Senator Hale. VINO Is chairman of ih"
subcommittee. late today brought the
resolution before the senate for the
third time with request for immediate
consideration. \ Threatened Democrat :
ic fillhuster led hy Senators Hittmam. Of
Nevada and Walsh. of Mauiana. caused
him to withdraw IN" request with the
announcement that he would make il
again tomorrow.
Secretary Daniels who had been cX-
a,
notified Chairman Hat" today that il
would he more convenient for him to
begin his testimony ON Friday. and the
next session was set for that day.
Daniels Reply
WASHINGTON, Jan. - &C., Secretary
Daniels made public tonight Il letter 10
Chairman Hale Of the Scnat" sub-com-
mittec investigating naval war d"cora-
tion awards. transmitting a list Of
awards made tu enlisted men Of the SER
vice by tn" secretary without reference
Ia tn" Knight medal award hoard. 1t
consists Of twelve awards of distin-
guished service medals. tn" only in
stances, Mr. Daniels explained, Of such
awards To enlisted men, and ia navy
cross awards. Chairman Hale WAS in
formed also that Il list nf awards To Of
fcers made by direction Of the sccr"-
tary "withnut tn" action Of the board"
was being compiled and would be trans
mitted when completed. rs the senator
had requested.
Secretary Daniels. In his letter. said
that when the report Of the board of
awards reached HIM, hc noticed that
out of a hnlf million men in the naval
Scrvic" during tn" war. only about IL
enlisted men had been rc""mm"ndcd for
the navy cross and none haH been rec
commended for the distinguished service
medal"
Il knew" Mr.. Daniels letter contin-
url that there were REPORTS of brave