Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-02-03
FOR CHANGING
RECOMMENDATIONS OF
KNIGHT BOARD is GIVEN
Admlras Opinion Influenced by Long Shore Duty Secretary
Declares; Commanders Of Ships Attacked by Submarines
Defended as Most Deserving Of Medals for eritoriOus
Conduct in Face Of Danger

AetehceS VeNelOplng between Read Adj
miral William S. Sims and Admiral
Henry B. Wilson, former commander
OF Amrecisan naval forces off the
French coast, were followed by the
omission of Admiral Wilson's name
from the list of officers recommended
for medals by Admiral Sims, the SEN
ate committee investigating naval dec
orations was told today by Secretary
Daniels.
While Admiral Sims recommended
young officers who served well in min
or posts for Distinguished Service
Medals and other flag officers under
his command for the same honor" said
Mr.. Daniels, ''he omitted that distin-
guished admiral who commanded all
American naval forces off the French
coast, Rear Admiral Wilson, now COM
mander in chief of the Atlantic fleet.
Wilson'S Service Good.
when the history Of the war is
written Admiral Wilson's service win
stand as high tas that or Sims, Mayo,
Benson or Rodman."
When it was decideito appoint Ad-
miral Wilson chief of the Atlantic fleet
Secretary Daniels said, Admiral Sims
wrote letter of protest
! Washington, Feb. 3.--Taking up the
contentious of Rear Admiral William
S Sims in the matter Of naval medal
awards, Secretary Daniels today before
the senate investigating subcommittee
took emphatic issue with the admiral
The secretary went into detail in ex-
planning changes he made in confer
ring decorations as recommended by
the commanding officers of the navy
and by the Knight board of medal
awards.
He outlined the chief differences be-
tween his views and the views held by
Admiral Sims. These were at vari-
ance as to the Importance of service at
sea compared with service on shore
and differences on the question of
whether a Distinguished Service Med
al should be awarded under any cir
cumstances to a commander of ship
sunk or seriously damaged by enemy
submarines or mines
Influenced by Shore Duty.
Asserting that Admiral Sims while on
shore duty( both In the Spanish Amer
lea nand world war demonstrated abil
ity of high order" Secretary Daniels
said 'the position of Rear Admiral
Sims in placing shore duty above sea
duty in the danger zone is, no doubt,
Influenced by his own record" Figures
were presented by Mr.. Daniels show
ing that during the last 25 years Ad-
miral Sims had served about nine
years at sea.
AS justifying his contention that in
dividual duties ashore are necessarily
OF secondary Importance to duties
afloat, Mr.. Daniels asserted.
"On shore a man decides important
questions with time to weigh the pros
and cons and If he makes a mistake his
error of decision is not Immediately
followed by disastrous results. AT sea
the commander is in imminent peril
of death. He must make momentous
decisions in the flash of a single mo-
ment, orten when his ship has been at
tackled, and when GOODNESS and poise
are necessary to save the lives of score
of hundreds of men. A mistake in this
emergency is fatal"
Sea Officers Deserving.
In support of his contention that
commander of a ship sunk or damaged
by submarine attack was entitled to
medal if he showed proper qualifica-
tons even though the ship was unable
to combat the submarine, Secretary
Daniels cited numerous examples in
American naval history and also point
ed to instances of such awards by the
French government during the world
war.
I'm the stiletto attack of submarine
warfare" said Mr.. Daniels, "it is not
the fact that man strikes or is struck
that tests true mettle and true naval
leadership. The question is: Does he
play the part of ran. with chivalry
thought only Of others and of his coun-
try? And has he by preparation and
foresight done all that is possible to
meet any and every emergency? And
.FIlcn ut idttS u CDuiL VI lis D1DAiAEi
officers, do they find he has measured
Up in the terrible ordeal to the high
raval traditions? Admirals Mayo ana
Gleaves and Vice Admiral Grant rec
ommending commander officers under
them for Distinguished Service Medals
who displayed these high qualities
when their ships, struck by mines or
torpedoes. were sunk or damaged. The
board of awards approved their recon-
nendations. The greatest thing that
a man ever does in this world is TO
turn a stumbling block into stepping
slone. If medals are not given for THIS
sort of noble courage and GOODNESS and
direction in supreme danger, what on
earth are they designed for?"
Rank Means Nothing.
Referring to Admiral Sims state
ment that he had not recommended
any enlisted men for medals because
I'VE had nothing to give them" the
secretary called the committees atten-
ton to the act creating the awards
which he said made no distinction pc
tween an admiral. captain and enlist
I'd man.