The Washington times., 1920-03-08

ships should have been compelled to
have demonstrated especially mer-
itOrious conduct aud service before
they were given medal, aud that
tho loss OF the ship In itself should
have been an obstacle. though not
an insurmountahle obstacle" In the
making OF the award.
6-That Secretary Daniels did not
require a sufficiently high degree OF
service from commanders who lost
their ships before no granted them
awards.
O-That a board OF Officers of the
navy should be named TO reco1 mend
changes In the statutes relating TO
awards.
THAT Secretary Daniels will en-
counter less trouble IL he fol-
lows the recomme ndations OF the
board OF awards now In session.
S. That the board OF awards should
be given full authority apd discretion
TO change previous awards confirmed
by Secretary Daniels.
0. That the board OF awards should
be urged to give especial attention To
deserving cases among the enlisted
men OF the navy.
Pittman UphoIds Daniels.
Senator Pittman, after reviewing
the testimony to show that there was
reason for a difference OF opinion as
70 the services rendared by officers,
insists that he does not believe the
morale OF the navy has suffered to
any extent He takes the testimony
OF Rear-Admiral Sims TO point out
how meritorious was the conduct OF
certain officers for whom the admiral
recommended a lesser award.
Special stress is placed by Senator
Pittman on the justice OF the award
to Commander ID. w. Bagley brother
in-law to the Secretary OF the Navy.
Because Secretary Daniels raised the
award OF naval cross TO Bagley, as
recommended by Sims, to a disttn-
guished service medal. and because OF
the relationship. the Republicans
have been pointing to this case as one
very much in point.
UphoIds BnRIey Award.
A comparison of the findings of tho
court OF inquiry and the reports Of
the commanding officers in these
various cases tother cases OF mcri
torius conduct reported by the boa d
OF awards) where the Distinguished
Service Medal was recommended vita
the findings OF the court OF inqulIy
and the reports in the case OF Com
mander d. w, Bagley will. | believe.
convince any unpre1udlced mind that
BaGley's case was similar to the 9th
ers and that he was entitled to thu
same treatment as those officers who
were recommended for Distinguished
Service Medals" states Senator PITT
man in his report
Bagley lost his ship when IL was
hit by a torpedo and Admiral Sims
contended an officer who lost his
ri .Ln ,nt No ar1a Cd Ia
highest naval honors. Senator Pitt
man points out numerous instances
in which the highest honors were
awarded naval commanders who lost
their ships, shows that their CON-
mia ndering officers recommended
them for the highest honors and taen
adds that he does not believe the
granting OF a Distinguished Service
NESS to BagIey will undermine the
morale OF the navy. as Rear Admiral
Sims contended.
Sims Prefers British.
Senator Pittman takes an opport-
tunity to refer to the statements that
Admiral Sims is in closer touch and
greater sympathy with British meth
DDS and with British naval practice
than with the practice and methods
of the navy OF the United States. He
reviews the evidence to show that
Rear Admiral Sims constantly keeps
in mind the practices of the British
naval service.
The conclusions drawn by Senator
Pittman are:
THAT the investigation by the
Senate subcommittee was unneces-
sary, in view OF the fact that re-
investigation was being made by the
knight board of awards.
THAT the investigation, through
caring the personal grievances" of
an admiral and his "deprecatory state
ments" has tended to besmirch a
glory OF the navy that never before
has been questioned.
3-That Secretary Daniels fol.
lowed the only course, he could pur-
sue and a course in complete accord
ance with the statutes.
+That Admiral Sims is sincerely
convinced that no naval board is COM
petent to review and act upon any
recommendations made by him; that
the changing in the slightest degree
of any award to any officer made by
him is so grave an error that 1t would
be better that no medals be awarded
at all: that he believes that the,
awarding of the Distinguished Serv-
ice Medal should be limited to a few
of the highest officers in the navy,
and that IL has been cheapened by
being awarded to so many Junior Of
ficers and enlisted men.
5-That the whole dispute is moth
ing more than a tempest in a tea-
pot"
6-That the plan of Secretary Dan
iels to hold open the making of final
awards until complete report is had
is the correct policy to pursue.
Senator Trammell, in his report diff
fers little from Senator Pittman, add
ing only one general criticism of all
Awards in that he insists sufficient
honors were not given to the enlisted
men of the service.
OIIYION InnIT AHHAI IIIIIn