New-York tribune., 1920-01-17
Sims Asserts
Daniels Shot
Morale to Bits
Secre,ary's Failure to Fix
Definite Policy on Medals
Blamed by Admiral, Who
Defends Right as Critic
Vould Cancel All Awards
Charges Grave Injustices
And Cites Case of Cabinet
officers Brother-in.Law

WASHINGTON. Jan 16.-While dis
.ls;ming any thought of making a per-
sonal attack on Secretary Daniels, Rear
ADMIRAL William S. Sims told the SEN
..s subcommittee investigating naval
rsr decorations to-day that the morale
af the service had been knocked to
uecesD as a result of methods followed
n making the awards.
The underlying cause Of "the whole
unfortunate affair" Admiral Sims as
s.rted, was the failure of Mr.. Daniels
ia formulate a definite policy to gov
srn awards in his instructions to the
Knight medal board Grave injustice
hsd been done many officers because of
this, he added.
Admiral Sims. who during the war
commanded American forces in foreign
waters, said constructive criticism vas
part of his duty to the service, and his
recent letter as we'll as his testimony
was not to be construed otherwise.
He argued for withdrawal of depart
ment regulations requiring officers not
to publish critical articles without spe-
cifc sanction as in the best interests of
the service. In connection with his
original letter refusing a Distinguished
Service Medal pending action by the
Secretary on his plea for reconsidera-
ton OF his recommendation as to
awards, he said Mr.. Daniels had written
him that no final action mad been taken.
Commanders Best Judges"
Admiral Sims vigorously reaffirmed
the position taken in his letter that
only commanding officers were COM
petent to pass on the relative value
Of services performed by officers un-
der them. He cited changes in awards
made both by the Knight Board and
the Secretary as being unjustified, and
expressed the opinion that the service
generally would welcome withdrawal
Of all medals because of the "unfor-
tunate and unnecessary" controversy
that had arisen.
Taking up the Secretary's announced
policy OF awarding distinguished SER
vice medals to officers who had lost
ships in action where their service had
been meritorious, Admiral Sims de-
elared such officers deserved medals
Of honor or nothing. He cited the
case Of a British mystery ship" sunk.
by submarine after a battle from
which the U-boat emerged unhurt. The
British officer received, he said, the
Victoria Cross. equivalent to the Medal
Of Honor.
Reads Inquiry on Bagley
In this connection Admiral Silas read
apersonal letter from Secretary Dan
iels asking what steps toward suitable
reognition" of the services of Lieu
tenant Commander David W. Bagley
tMr. Daniels's Brother in-law) and
ether officers Of the destroyer Jacob
Jones, sunk without warning by an
enemy torpedo, had been taken, and
his own reply stating that officers in
cases ike this deserved no particular
recognition. Admiral Sims also pre-
sented personal letter he had written
Bagley at the time, commencing his
conduct after the sinking of the Jones,
which letter, he said, was in addition
to the formal comm endation made
part OF Bagley's military record.
Summing up his objections to the
decorations award policy, Admiral Sims
declared that "tne awarding of medals
to men who lost their ships in action
without engaging the enemy was with
out precedent in the history of the
American navy or any other navy and
mad resulted in absolutely shattering
the morale of the service. He attacked
changes made both by Secretary Dan
ieis and the Knight Board. bluntly
stating that he did not have confidence
the boards ability to judge of the
relative merits of officers.
Prefer No Medals
Officers Of the navy, the admiral said,
would much rather have no medals
awarded than to have them juggled
around he said that his chief criticism
was not that some of his recommends
s,ons mad not been approved, but was
1iat oy awarding medals of different
ssiue than he recommended to various
omcers OF his staff the board and sec
1ssary had changed the relative order
merit Of the service or the of1lcers.
eCnIerring high decoration son officers
shs performed more or less routine
ousy and lower honors on officers who
sadministcred posts Of extreme i'm
portance.
!. ADMIRAL Sims is expected TO conclude
n's 81 testimony tomorrow, and Chairman
naie did not Indicate what officer
seuid be called Monday. He said all
u'asers who made recommendation
"'aso De heard before members of the