Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-02-08
REGRETS FORMER
PRAISE OF ADMIRAL
Secretary Would Not Repeat
His Recommendation for
Sims Promotion.
mlNlMIZED AMERICAS WORK
Daniels Declares Commander
Saw War Questions From
British Viewpoint.
I b. Associated Prcss.l

~ Associated PrcSS.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Accommodating
his testimony today before the Senate
subcommittee Investigating the award
Of naval decorations. Secretary Dan
aels disclosed the fact that a wide dif-
ference OF opinion existed between
himself and Rear-Admiral Sims dur
Ing the war on the question OF the
acceptance OF foreign honors and dec
orations by American naval oiiicera
aho admiral; who favored euch decor
s shhtons' ' Whtle Mr. Daniels opposed
rnittcc on Tuesday.
\, MEMBER OF The committee read to
Mr Daniels highly commentators
statements nc made in recomme ndini,
that Aduira Sims be made a perma-
nent admiral for his war services. Sec
rotary Daniels declared he would not
now make such IA recommendation, as
developments sincc his original action
s s ci nadss srh, MN n to change his mina
rniral Sims effort to magnify the
aehievements of the British army and
results obtained by the United States
FORCES, injudic!ous statements con-
ta;nGu In recent series OF articles by
Nd!nira! Sims regarding the navy's
part in the war. including II graft
tious. reflection on the whole irish
sae ma ada I'M; pb, ol''ceTs hc,ion In hsv
Of highly confidential nature as hav-
ing LED to a change In his views re-
Sims. 'o' -N'rin1 81
Had Waived Regulations.
Mr. Daniels said he had waived reg
ulatsnns requiring officers TO submit
hf nasSs 70 the before pub
Admiral Sims every confederation and
courtesy" ana expee;~l the articles
naval partiep ea ssfiS affhe e wa American
Admifa SINS sy tho. hGs altitude asn, r and
M \,
rotary Daniels said.
,njtt lter cons sr;na nassed law per.
presden wison 'o dree,ed the stats
governments tina; the United states
rstHary Daniels disclosed today.
iels said; Rear Admiral Sims had been
informed BY the chief az the Bureau
f OF Navigation OF the passage OF the
from the King OF England. and had
authorized Admiral Rodman. then
vision With the British Grand F,ea.,
ana tear- AdmirA! strauss. directing
the laying OF the North Sea mine bar
rage, to accept decorations.
Could Not Return Decorations.
Admiral Sling was Informed by Sec
Ictary Daniels Of The Presidents ac-
zion. the secretary continued and ne
wrote asking whether he should return
the medal To the King. Mr.. Daniels said
no replied that in view OF tho acton
taken. presumably before President
Wilson'S request reached tho Kinc.
there was nothing that could be done.
and that. of course. the decorations
already accepted could not be returned,
He expressed tho hope 1t the Time he
said that no other foreign decorations
would be given except such as might
be awarded Tor courageous conduct in
battle.
The secretary said AdIn!rals Rodman
and Strauss were reluctant TO accept
decorations from the King OF England,
nnd he read letters from them TO the
de partment on the subject. When Mr..
Daniels completed his prepared state
ment he was ross-qucstioned by mem.
bcrs OF the committee: he conceded
that Admiral Sims had served whore
ordered and said that he meant no
that. the admiral had served most OF
his time on shore duty.
Heads Complimentary Aliusion:
by Secretary Daniels prais.ng Admiral
Sims for his service during the war,
and Senator Mccormick read testimony
rotary Daniels before congressional
committees during consideration of a
bul TO make Sims and Benson fui!
Every word that I have said of
hdm ,,,, Sim, Sims ability and bri'liancy in
mes had known sai What Mr h nand as
m neityd that he be made an admiral
Il wish to give some reasons why
gould not make that recommendation
now. One reason Is Il statement made
tiyes by Representative Byrncs. in
which he said that while In Paris in
9ctober; 1919 sr,s he talked to ADMIRAL
army highly s,s declared that an armi-
Pershing had been unable to break
fhrnDph RI
breakdown in the American service of
tho service of the American navy in
the war: p,,,o
said he l visited Pershing's headonayr tees
and learned that Sims charge was on
,ey s few asys after
Admiral Sims remarks to a high Ameri
can official without saying who made
them. and received the reply, That is
only one officer In the American service
who could have said such things, and
he is Rear Admiral Will'"-- Sims"
Quotes Magazine Article.
Statements contained in n series OF
magazine articles written by Admiral
Sims, published recently. were given
Rear-Admlral Sims for admiral.
''1'he third reason should not have
written and published" Secretary DAN
iele continued
Charging that Rear. Admiral Sims in
s sas re sratuituousiy cast ." reflection
npon tho whole irish race. Secretary
Daniels told the Senate committee in
sSe todny he
Pore they were published.
II expected Admiral Sims to con-
tContinned on Second Page.)