The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-03
is BACK AT SIMS
Secretary Daniels Denies State
ments Made by Admiral.
Before Senate Investigating
Committee Refutes Charges.
DECLARES SIMS is LAND SAILOR
Of Twenty-Five Years. Service
Only Nine on Water.
Denies Medal Awards Has "Shot
to Pieces" Navy Morale.

Washington, Feb. B. Admiral
Sims's charge that the morale of the
navy is shattered by the alleged in
justice of medal awards is ian insult
to the splendid men of the navy"
Secretary Daniels declared today,
testifying before the senate naval COM
mittee in it's Investigation of medal
awards.
1T is an insult to the splendid men
of the navy to say that the morale of
the service could be seriously i'm
paired by any question of awards to
individuals" the secretary said on that
point. "They are made of sterner
stuff than to be ratified by a matter
so unimportant in comparison with
their devotion to their duties. Their
loyalty is in no sense dependent upon
medals"
Enlisted men IN service in the war
zone were largely overlooked" in
recommendations for naval decora-
tions made by the Knight board of
awards: Daniels told the committee.
explaining why he revised the list.
Only % per cent of officers on sea
duty in the war zone were recon-
mended, he said.
81 was astonished to find that only
119 enlisted men out of the 5000
in the navy during the war were rec
commended for any high honors,'
Sims Too Much Ashore.
Asserting that Admiral Sims. while
on shore duty, both in the Spanish
American and world wars, demon
strated ability of a high order" Dan
ielS said. THE position of Rear Ad-
miral Sims, in placing shore duty
above sea duty in the danger zone is,
Sv,f1 49, ri
ord" Figures were presented by Mr..
Daniels showing that during the last
twenty-five years Admiral Sims had
served about sixteen years on shore
duty and nine years at sea-
''On shore man decided important
questions in the quiet of office sur
roundings with time to weigh the pros
and cons, and if he makes a mistake
his error of decision is not imme-
diately followed by disastrous results.
At sea. particularly in submarine war
fare, the commander. like all his men.
is in imminent peril of death. He
must make mon1entous decisions in
the flash of a single moment, often
when his ship has been attacked, and
when coolness and poise are neces-
hundreds of men. A mistake in this
emergency is fatal to an officer in
command at sea-"
Plenty of Precedents.
American navy history, he told the
committee, was filled with precedent,
upho1ding his action in awarding the
distinguished service medal to COM
manders of ships sunk by submarines
or mines.
'In the stiletto attack of submarine
warfare" said Mr.. Daniels, "it is not
the fact that a man strikes or is struck
that tests true mettle and true naval
leadership. The question is: Does he
play the part of the man, with chiy-
airy and thought only to others and
his country. And has he by prepara-
tion and foresight done all that is pos
sible to meet any and every emer-
gency. And when he faces a court o1
his brother officers do they find that
he has measured up in the terrible
ordeal to the high naval traditions?"
Referring to Admiral Sims's state
ment that he had not recommended
any enlisted men for medals because
I'VE had nothing to give Them" the
| secretary called the committees at
tention to the act creating the awards
which he said made no distinction
| between an ADMIRAL captain and en-
| listed man.