The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-01-20
MAYO MADE
NO PROTEST. .
HE ASSERTS
Commander-n-Chief Refuses
to Back Up Sims State
ments on Naval Awards
Other Charges Barred.
WOOD TO Be CALLED
tBy Associated Press)


WASHINGTON. Jan. 20.-Rear Ad-
miral Henry T. Mayo. commander m
chief Of the U. S. fleet during the
war told the senate committee in
vestigating naval awards today that
his letter to Secretary Daniels on Dec.
%, declaring that the Knight board
did not give sufficient consideration
10 service at sea, particularly to the
duties and responsibilities of members
OF the staff of the commanding chief
or the fleet, was not to be consid-
cred in any sense one of protest.
He read the letter at the request
of Chairman Hale.
Admiral Mayo took a view diametri-
cally opposed to that expressed by
Rear Admiral Sims, who told the sub
| committee that the knight board in
granting awards, gave too little con-
sideration to the records of officers
who served on shore.
The navy department made public
Mayo's letter on the subject some
days ago
The examination of Admiral Mayo
began under the ruling made yester-
day by the senate naval committee
that the present investigation should
|
of ward decoration awards, charges
made by Rear Admiral Sims that the
navy department did not cooperate
fully with the allies during the war,
being barred for subsequent investi-
cation.
Navy Cross Recommended.
In the case of Captain o. P. Jack
sen. my chief of staff said Admiral
Mayo, Il took a very conservative
view and recommended navy cross.
in view of 'othed commanders recon-
mending their chief aids for dis
tinguished Service medal, the board
increased my recommendation to a d.
S. NJ, but Secretary Daniels reduced
it back to navy cross. Captain
Jackson was the only member of my
staff, believe, who finally received
any decoration at ALL
Testifyins that Admiral Sims was
supposed to be" under his command
during the war, Admiral Mayo said
kthatz in order to facilitate matters
II Admiral Sims did not report to him,
but directly to the navy department.
Had No Decoration Policy.
Lack of well defined policy for
the award of naval honors may have
had bearing on the decoration sit.
uation, Admiral Mayo said, adding:
Both the board and the secretary
were acting within their rights and
prerogatives in changing recommends.
tions for awards"
But don't you believe, Admiral,
that the board and the secretary
should have consulted you before
changing your recommendations"
asked Chairman Hale.
mo, do not" replied the admiral
81 do not believe it would have been
practicable"
Admiral Sims, who precipitated the
inquiry by his refusal to accept the
distinguished service medal, complet-
ed his testimony yesterday before the
| committee in which he charged the
navy department had failed to COOP
crate with the allies during the war.
| After the present investigation is over
this charge will be investigated.
| The full naval committee also has
authorized the appointment of another
subcommittee to investigate the
charges made by John r. Rathom, ed
itor of the Providence (R. I.) Journal,
that with the knowledge of Secretary
Daniels many seamen in the navy
have been used for most vile and
nameless practices in order to entrap
innocent men,"
Chairman Butler of the House naval
committee announced that Major Gen
eral Wood would be called before that
committee to explain statements at
tributed to him that American naval
vessels were floating death traps
General Wood explained last night
that what he had said was that naval
ships manned by unframed men would
be death traps in battle.
III