Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1920-01-27
Daily
Editorial
Digest
(Title Appld for L. s, Pat off
Edited by tha Washington
Featu vice
DAVID La +, Prest.
ADMIRAL SIN D
SECRETARY / ELS


Admiral Sins Who is the stormy
petrol of the L. S. Navy has stirred
up great scandal in official circles
as result of his recent rev Citations, y
declares the Port Huron Times Her
aid Qnd.)
It all started when the Admiral
refused to accept a Distinguished
Service Medal, because he thought
Secretary Daniels had made his med
al awards so unfairly as to destroy
the morale" of the navy. Now Con
gress is investigating the matter, and
Admiral Sims comes forth with a
letter criticizing the Navy Depart
ments management OF the war.
The least important of the counts
in the Sims iudietma mt against the
Navy Department" the New York
Evening Post dnd.O says. has been
most heavily played Hp in the news. =
This vas the AdmiraI's statement
thaj on leaving for London just he
tore America declared var, he VAS
instructed Thy whom lie did lot say
rot to let he British pull the wool
u&-r his owes. Is we would as soon
h@at dHe British as the Germans. \
FsCHcf1i order declares the Cleve-
'ut %e"s dndl, and the Steuben-
st5}, I5erel star tRep1 says thai
.vis2 3-H rs 4 coarse and stupid Joke,
%. fa SIN with all the meaning
vaiv3 he words imply, il seems SO
oft II heeping with the gravity of
the situation as would appear in
credible We're it given on any less
authority than the acknowledged
head of the American navy
Secretary Daniels denies that he
gave such Instructions, but says he
did warn Admiral Sims against un-
neutral utterances that might en-
barraSs the United States, since We
We're not then officially at war,
though on the verge of it.
But of the charge that the NOR
ale of the American navy was never
at lower ebb than right now" the
Roanoke Times tDem) says 1T is
important that Congress get at the
reason for If there is anything
radically wrong with the American
navy we had better know it the
New York Sun (Ind( declares that
facts, and all the facts, are what
the American people want and the
Buffalo Evening News (Rep9 be-
heves that the honor of the navy,
the honor Of the nation, demand that
there be a thorough inquiry
The impression vas general, "
says the Spokane Spokesman lie
view Gnd. Rep, that the navy
gave most efficient service through
the war and that its morale was
high. With that belief in mind eriti-
cism of Secretary Daniels, which
had been pretty loud and caustic in
the earlier years of his service, had
nearly died out" But now the Sec
retary's whole attitude toward his
job is under fire. The committee, 81
says the New York Tribune (Bepl
should go deeper than any mere diff
ferences as to particular measures
of strategy during the war. 1t should
Investigate Mr.. Daniels policy from
the beginning Of his administrations
The Birmingham News DEM re
views all Admiral Sims charges AKA
inst the Department finding many
Of them we'll founded, especially his
position in regard to the award OF
the medals. Most Of his Other
charges. however, are directed aga
inst the Navy Department because
il disagreed with his idea OF tactics
No Senate probes or any action By {
legislative body is capable Of dcejG
ing this argument of taetieians Til.
News thinks the Republicans ca.
$50 il 10 embarrass nm opposition al
aiuistrati5n, and tuiS tGeE viii pre-