The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-11-11
Second Anniversary Of Cessa.
tion Of HostiIities on West
ern Battle Fronts.
HOMAGE TO DEAD HEROES
Fitting Ceremonies at Home
and Abroad-2,000 Med
ais for u. s. Navy.

dio AOE W. -. Navy
The whole civilized world united
today In the observance Of ArmI.
stlce day-the second anniversary
OF the cessation OF hostIlltles on the
western battle fronts. Never be-
fore have the great nations of the
globe met with such unanlmity upon 3
common ground for the ceiebra-
tlon Of a single event affecting all.
Throughout the British empire,
the United States, France, Bel
glum and the lesser states the
day was observed with fitting cere-
monies. Rulers Of nations, states.
men, diplomats, soldiers and men OF
humber walks Of life Joined In pay
mo homage to the memory Of fallen !.
heroes. There were celebrations IN
all the important cities Of the
United States. Gen. Nlvelie, former
commander In -ehlef Of the French
army. took part In the ceremonles
In New York city,
Two Thousand Medals Awarded,
Washington. Nov. ll.-(A. P)-The
second anniversary. of the signing OF
the armistiee was celebrated in the
navy and marine corps by the dis
tribution of nearly 1000 medals and LETT
ters OF commentator for particularly
valorous or distinguished performance
Of duty during the World war. The
medals and letters awarded had been
parts of the world and upon signal by
radio and telegraph today from Secre-
tary Daniels office here. the honors
were distributed with appropriate cere-
monies.
The action marked the final phase Of
the controversy over naval decorations
that resulted in a congressional inves-
litigation last winter after Rear Ad-
'%2iral w. s. Sims had refused to ac-
cept the distinguished service medal
intended for him on the ground that
injustice. had marked the manner Of dis
tributionN of the navy's recognition OF
distinguished wartime service. During
the investigation, Secretary Daniels
was accused of making awards to Off
GERS who commanded ships sunk by the
enemy and ignoring other officers who
performed distinguished duty in re-
snonsible positions on shore.
Publication Of the list of awards as
finally approved by the secretary shows
the original list to be unchanged SO
far as deletions are concerned. Rear
Admiral Sims name again appeared on
the list as having been awarded d.
s. NJ. but It was said at the navy de-
partment that the medal had not been
actually forwarded to Admiral Sims, as
was done in almost every other case,
due to the officers previous refusal to
accept the honor
Deposited for Acceptance.
I lHt Ineudl, diOHk WIFI tnt navy
crosses, awarded Rear Admiral Benton
G. Decker and Capt Raymond Has
brouck,, who took action similar to that
of Admiral Sims, had been deposited
in the bureau of navigation for such
future action regarding acceptance Of
the medals as the ofiifficers concerned
might wish to take, 1t was explained at
the department. \
The list or awards as finally approved
showed q considerable Increase over
the list published before the congres.
sional investigation. It was explained
that after the rtatter had been referred
back to the board headed by Rear Ad-
miral Austin M. Knight for reconsider
alton. many meritorious cases were dis
covered that had not been included In
said i.9Si medals and 662 letters of
commendation were awarded today IN
stead of 1851 medals and 361 letters
as was originally recommended.
Some Awards Increased.
In addition to the names added TO
the list a number of awards as finally
approved were increased In Importance
over the honor accorded In the original
Hist, Two navy crosses and three dis.
Stinguished service medals were raised
to medals Of honor. and twenty-tour @ d,s
&navy crosses were increased TO uis-
ftinguished service medals.
IN the case of Vice-Admral II. r.
Jones, who, when the original list .of
awards was made public. wrote the ue-
nartment declaring that he. did not pc
sufficient recognition OF the service he
had performed, Secretary Daniels IN
creased the award to that OF uis-
tinguished service medal.
Daniels Announcement.
In the official announcement OF tne
final action taken with regard TO tif
medals, Mr.. Daniels said;
''In his review of the boards second
report and in the award OF these meu-
ais the secretary has adhered 10 tne
list as published In his annual report OF
.1g19, except that In certain cases upon
'Vurther consideration. a higher AWARD
has been made than shown In that iist
No eliminations or reductions from thar
list have been made. However. certain
clerical errors have been corrected:
There have been large NUMBER OF
new awards made as result OF rec
concentrations made and further con-
sideration of all reports"
Eleven congressional medals of honor
were awarded seven to officers and -FOUR
to enlisted men. This was SIX more
than conrained in the origianl report OF
the board and five more than the sec
retary, origially approved, The board
final report recommended ten such
medals, but Mr.. Daniels changed the
award of a naval cross TO Lieutenant-
Commander Alexander @. Lyle to
medal of honor.
The officers to whom medals of honor
were awarded were Lieutenant Com
manders James J. Madison, reserve
force, and Alexander @. Lyle. medical
corps Lieuts. Edouard w. NJ. Isaacs
and Orlando II. Petty. medical corps: !:
Ensigns Daniel A. ]. Sullivan and
Charles Fl. Hammann, both of the re-
serve force, and Lieut. Ralph Talbot
medical corps, deceased.
Enlisted men to whom the medal of
honor was awarded were Pharmacists s
Mate John Henry Balch: Hospital At
tendant David Ephraim Hayden Cum
uer's Mate osmond Kelly Ingram. de-
ceased. and Gunnery Sergt Robert c.
Rnbipapn