The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-02-03
NTH COURTEOUS
LANGUAGE AND IN
CHESTERF
TERMS SECRETARY
NAVY WERED
ADM | RAL ST NJ s.

Washington. Feb. 3.-Personal diff
ferences developed between Rear Adj.
miral William S. Sims and Admiral
Henry p. Wilson, former commander
OF American naval forces off the
French coast, We're followed by the
omission Of Admiral Wilson's name
from the list OF officers recommended
for medals by Admiral Sims, the sen.
ate committee investigating naval dec.
orations was told today by Secretary
Daniels. "While Admiral Sims recon-
mended young officers who served we'll
in minor posts for distinguished ser
vice medals and other flag officers ur.
der his command for the same hon
or" said Mr.. Daniels, "he omittcl
that distinguished admiral who coin
man1ed all American naval forces
off the French coast.
when the history OF the war Is
written, Admiral Wilson's service will
stand az high as that Of Sims Mayo.
Benson or Rodman."
When It was decided to appoint Ad-
miral Wilson commander in chief OF
the Atlantic feet Secretary Daniels
said, Admiral Sims wrote a letter OF
protest Characteri2ing the contcm
plated appointment as Il very grave
mistake indeed" the letter called Sec,
retary Daniels attention TO the "trou-
BILE Admiral Wilson gave me in the
discharge of my duties"
81 attempted TO correct It by per-
n loual letters" Admiral Sims letter
'sai1. -
Admiral Wilson criticised not only
thla organization but me personally.
Including that most destructive of an
criticisms, the impugning of motives" q"
Washington, Feb. a. Taking up
The contentious of Rear Admiral Will
liam s. Sims. in the matter Of naval
medal awards. point by point, Secre-
tary Daniels in his appearance today
before the senate investigating '5uD
committee took direct and emphatic
issue with the admiral l'l0tked by
voluminous records from the navy
department. the secretary went into
detail in explaining changes he mace
on comforting decorations rs recon-
mended by the commanding officers of
the navy, and by the Knight board
OF medal awards.
The naval secretary outlined to the
committee the two chief differences
between his views and the views hall
by Admiral Sims in the awarding Of
medals. These were at variance as t.
the Importance of service at Sc,
compared with service on shore, ana
Of rlTff =
or q distinguished service medal shoull
be awarded under any circumstances
to commander of a ship sunk or
seriously damaged by enemy subma-
rino or mines
Asserting that Ld.niral Sims while
on shore duty, both in the Spanish
American and world war, demonstrate
ed ability OF a high order" Secretary
Daniels said:
"The position Of Rear Admiral Sims
in placing shore duty above sea duty
in the danger zone is, no doubt an
fluenced by his own record" Figures
were presented by Mr.. Daniels show
ing that during the last 20 years.
, Admiral Sims had served about l6
6scars on shore duty and nine years
~ sea.
80 rarely did ne take n sea trip"
said the secretary referring TO the
admirals work as commander Of the
United States naval forces in European
waters, "that in his book he tells 4
story Of one of the few times he was
afloat, going with the British admiral
who had been placed by Rear Ad-
rniral Sims in command of the AIN.
erican destroyer, based at Queens
town."
AS justifying his contention !ha!
individual duties ashore are neces.
sarily of secondary Importance to du
ties afloat, Mr.. Daniels asserted:
ION shore n man decided import
ant questions in the quiet Of office
surroundings with time to weigh the
pros and cons, and If he makes
mistake his error of decision is not
Immediately followed by disastrous re.
suits. AT sea, particularly in cubrra-
rine warfare, the commander, like
all his men, Is in imminent peril or
death. He must make momentous de-
cisions in the flash of single mo-
ment, often when his ship has been
attacked, and when GOODNESS and poise
are necessary to save the lives OF
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