The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-02-03


compared with service ON shore 4
whether the distinguished service I
circumstances to n commander OF IA
enemy submarines or mines.
Asserting that Admiral Sims, while
on shore duty both in the spanish.
American and world war, demonstrated
ability Of high order, Secretary Dan.
iels said the position of Rear Admiral
Sims in placing shore duty above sea
duty In the danger gone Is. no doubt,
influenced by his own record, Figures
were presented br Mr. Daniels showing
that during the last IS years Admiral
Sims had served about 10 wears ON
shore duty and nine years Al sea.
So rarely did he take a sea "trip.
said the secretary, referring TO the Hd-
mirars work as commander OF the
United States naval forces in Euro
pean waters. that in his book he tells
a story OF one Of the few times he
was afioat going then with the Brit
ish admiral who had been placed BY
Rear Admiral Sims in command Of the
American destroyers based on queens
town"
As justifyIng his contention that in
dividual duties ashore are neCe ssarily
OF secondary Importance to duties
Bfloat. Mr., Daniels asserted;
"On shore a man decides important
questions IN the quiet Of office sur
roundngs with time 10 weigh the pros
and cons and Il he makes mistake his
error or decision is not Immediately tol-
lowed by disastrous results Al sea,
particularly In submarine warfare, the
commander, like all his men. Is In I'M
mlnent peril OF death. lie must make
momentous decisions In the tiash 81
a single moment, often when his snip
has been attacked. and when GOODNESS
and poise are necessary to save the
1t hundreds
A mistake In this emergency Is tatAi
to an officer in command at sea
Reduced Number.
with this as an impelling reason,
the secretary said. he disapproved Of
the disparity between honora TO men
ashore and afloat as recommended by
the Knight board and accordingly re-
duced or eliminated number OF awards
for shore service,
In support Of his contention that a
commander ~ ship sunk or dam
aged by submarine attack was entitled
70 medal II he showed proper quail
fleations, even though the ship was UNI
able to combat the submarine Secre-
tary Daniels cited numerous examples
in American naval history and also
pointed to instances Of such awards
by the French government during the
world war, American naval history. he
told the committee, was tille1 WIN
precedents UNFOLDING his action In
awarding the distinguished service med
ala 10 commanders OF ships sunk by
submarine or mines.
''In the stiietto attack Of submarine
warfare" said Mr.. Daniels, 1T Is not
the fact that Il man strikes or Is struck
that tests true mettle ana true haVai
leadership The question is; Does he
play the part 81 the man, with chlyalry
and thought only Of others and Of his
country? And has he by preparation
and foresight done all that Is possible
to meet any and every emergency
And when he faces a court OF his
has measured up In the terrible ordeal
to the high naval traditions?
"Adniirals Mayo and Gleaves and
Vice Admiral Grant recommended com.
mandlng officers under them Tor dls-
tInguished service medals who dis
played these high qualities when their
ships, struck by mines or torpedoes.
were sunk or damaged, The board o.
awards approved their recommends
lions, The greatest thing that man
ever does In this word Is to turn
stumbling block into a stepping stone,
II medals are not given for this sort
OF noble courage and GOODNESS and d.
rection In supreme danger, what on
earth are they designed for2''
Refutes Claim.
Referring to Admiral Sims state
ment that he had not recommended any
enlisted men for medals because we
had nothing to give them the secro-
tary called the committees attention
TO the act creating the awards which
he said made no distinction between
an admiral, captain and enlisted man.
1T Is the service he renders. the ser
vice in peril and not his rank that
10 d 4 Ma
sions when ship Is threatened with
destruction and when for the moment
its safety and protection depends on an
enlisted man and he Is then in pc
sitipn OF great responsibility. and II
he performs his duties at that moment
with courage and devotion, he is fully
entitled TO the recognition Of his con
duct by the distinguished service
medal"
Referring to the bestowal OF that
medal on Admiral Benson because OF
his services as chief Of naval opera
tons, Mr.. Daniel declared he would
give the same medal that goes to that
great and distinguished officer TO the
humbest sailor lad. who when placed
in position OF great responsibility in
time that tested the stuff OF which
man is made. met the demands OF
those duties and placed his life In
jeopardy in order that his ship am
the lives Of others might be preserved.
With that In mind. he ordered FUR
Their study of navy records when ht
found that only 1l9 enlisted men OF
the 500, goo in the navy during the wal
had been recommended for any high
honor, he explained, As the result o.
this study, as yet uncompleted. he saiG
rs additional enlisted men were award
ed the distinguished service medal auc
IS more men were put on the list fol
navy crosses.
Emphatic denial was made by tht
secretary Of Admiral Sims satemen
that the policy followed in awardni
medals had shot to pieces" the navy
morale,