Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1920-01-05
DANIELS MAKES
REPLY TO CRITICS
ON DECORATIONS
Secretary Of Navy Tells Why
Awards Were Made for
Services in the
Navy.

CONTINUED From Page One.)
leaving his sinking ship. won victory
after transferring his flag from the
Lawrence TO the Niagara. Indeed
Perry and all his gallant and VIC
torious crew were inspired to win
victory by the immortal words oil
Lawrence, for Perry had adopted
Lawrence's dying words as the slib'
bole.h on his flag: Don't give up
the ship!
10 officers Selected.
Ten commanding officers OF
ships torpedoed and sunk or put
out of action were selected as
worthy Of receiving the Distin-
guished Service Medal. These
awards, as ! stated in my previous
letter, were made without exception
to every commanding officer whose
ship felt the blow of the enemy
except one who was court-martialed
and who, though fully acquitted,
bad no recommendation from any
superior officer for recognition of
any character. Admiral Wilson
stated officially that the failure of
Captain Hasbrouck to return to his
ship at daylight with salvage party
was an offense more serious than
an error Of Judgement and Admiral
Gleeves stated officially that though
the court fully acquitted him, my
own opinion is such that | cannot
recommend him for the award,
either for a medal or cross How
ever, because of his previous serv-
ice in the transportation of troops
and without reference to his action
after his ship was torpedoed Cap
tain Hasbrouck was selected by my
direction for naval cross, the same
as was awarded to commanding Of
ficers of other transports. Captain
Hasbrouck writes he does not de-
sire to accept the medal.
instructions have been given for
the fullest investigation with view
of further awards to other officers
and men on these and any other
ships, who rendered meritorious
service by reason of attack by en-
envy ships. Some of these would
have been announced before now ex-
cept for the recovering of the
board OF awards to consider all
nyeritorious service and make fur
ther recommendations. Late and in
complete reports have necessarily
delayed full justice to all who de-
serve recognition But, though post
poned, 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 rem
dered service ashore in places OF less
responsibility"
Quotes Sims Report.
Reviewing the case of Commander
Foote, whose ship, the President
Lincoln, was struck by three tori
pedoes simultaneously and sunk in
50 minutes, the secretary quoted Ad-
hiral Sims report as follows;
The small loss of life is due to
thorough discipline of the ships
company and excellent seamanship
OF Commander Foote."
Admiral Gleaves' report ON the
case, the letter said, contained the
statement that "the small loss OF life
wac due to the splendid discipline
of the ships company and their fine
seamanship under the gallant lead
ership of Commander Foote."
Captain Madison, convoy COM
mandcr, wrote that 'it was an in
spring sight to see the ship, the
stern awash and on the point of
sinking, with her officers aboard and
guns still firing
Admiral Gleaves recommended
loote for Distinguished Service
medal, the letter said, and the rec
ommendation was approved by Ad-
miral Mayo, commander-in chief
of the United States fleet, and by
the Knight board.
incorporated in the letter were
the records of all of the officers who
lost their vessels, including Com
mander D.. w. Bagley, nephew of
Mrs. Daniels, and commander Percy
w. Foote, the secretary's aide, about
whom much of the controversy has
centered.
Commander Bagley's Case.
In Commander Bagley's case, Mr..
Daniels quoted from a letter by
Rear Admiral Sims in connection
with his approval of the findings of
the court of inquiry convened to in
vestigate 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 chivalrous action" Ad-
miral Sims wrote.
The findings of the court of in
quiry were that "the commanding
officer. officers and men of the u.
5. S. Jacob Jones bore themselves
i'll accordance with the best tradi-
tons of the service and no blame
for responsibility for, the loss of
the vessel attaches to them"
Secretary Daniels said that Adj
miral Sims recommended Command
er Bagley for navy cross, the
Knight board on naval awards ap-
proved the award and the secretary
changed it in common with the
awards of all other commanding Of
hcers OF torpedoed ships except
Captain Hasbrouck to distin-