Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-01-27
FLEET COMMANDER
SUPPORTS DANIELS
Admiral Mayo Disagrees With
Sims in Navy Row. =.
SECRETARY AND BOARD RIGHT
Opposes Sims Stand on Decorations
and Tells the Senate Committee
That Changing of Medal Awards
Was Justified.

Washington, Jan. 21.-Admiral
Henry T. Mayo, commander in chief
OF the United States feet during the
war, told the senate committee inves-
tigating naval wards that his letter
to Secretary Daniels on December %,
asserting that the Knight board did
not give sufficient consideration to
service at sea. particularly to the du-
ties and responsibilities of members of
the staff of the commander in chief of
the fleet, was not to be considered in
any sense one of protest He read the
letter at the request of Chairman
Hale.
Admiral Mayo took a view diane
trically opposed to that expressed by
Rear Admiral Sims, who told the sub
committee that the Knight board in
granting awards gave too little consid-
Grafton to the records of officials who
served On shore. The navy department
made public Admiral Mayo's letter on
the subject several days ago.
General Charges Deferred.
Charges made by Admiral Sims that
the navy department did not coop
crate fully with the allies during the
war are being deferred for subsequent
investigation.
Admiral Mayo said his letter was
written after practically all of his
recommendations had been changed or
disapprOved by the board or Secretary
Daniels.
Il made very few recommendations
for awards" he said, mostly in the
cases of my personal staff, force COM
manders and commanders operating
independently. Captain Jackson was
the only member of my staff, believe,
who finally received any decoration at
ALL"
Testifying that Admiral Sims was
supposed to be" under his command
during the war, Admiral Mayo said
that in order to facilitate matters Ad-
miral Sims did not report to him, but
directly to the navy department.
Lack of well-defined policy for
awarding naval hOnOrs may have had
a bearing on the decoration situation,
Admiral Mayo said.
II do not say l was satisfied with
the result of the action of the board
and the secretary" added Admiral
Mayo, "but l do say that they had
the right to take such action as they
wished and to assume the RESPONSE
bility."
Staff Had Real Duty.
Admiral Mayo said he had written
Secretary Daniels because he felt
there had not been sufficient realiza-
ton of the value of staff duty and
that this might cause officers to avoid
staff assignments.
"There has been a popular idea"
he said, "that the chief function of
the staff is go along and look pretty
when the Old Man goes on call |
That is not true. They are hard
working, efficient men,"
Senator Pittman Dem).. Nevada. |
asked if Admiral Mayo believed there
should be policy that officers who
lost their ships should be hOnored. al
Such a policy would not be a good
thing for the service, Admiral Mayo
said, but added that in cases where
the officers conduct during and after
the sinking was distinguished it
should entitle him to high distinction.
Under ordinary circumstances. he
added, an officer who lost his ship
was. in all navies. court-martialed
Major General Barnett, cOmmandant
of the marine corps, will be called.
Vice to Be Investigated.
Washington. Jan. PA board of
inquiry, headed by Rear Admiral
Dunn. commandant of the First naval
district, has been appointed by Sec
rotary Daniels TO investigate condi-
lions at the naval station mt Newport.
Il. l.. which led to charges by John
Il. Rathom of the Providence OR. ~
Journal of immortality in the navy.