Omaha daily bee., 1920-01-05
Secretary Daniels Tells Why
Awards of Decorations Were
Made in Letter to Chairman
of Probe Committee.
GOES INTO DETAIL
OVER EACH AWARD
Thinks D. S. 0. Should Not
Be Given Out Except for
Specially Meritorious Duty
in Face of Danger.

Washington, Jan. 4.-Secretary.
Daniels replied today to attacks on
his awards Of navy decorations in a
letter to Chairman Page Of the SEN
ate naval committee, which with the
house naval committee probably will
investigate the whole row precipi-
tated by the refusal of Rear Admiral
Sims and other officers to accept the
decorations awarded to them.
The complaint OF, the officers was
that in some instances Secretary
Daniels had changed the recon-
mendations of the official board
which set on the cases, bestowing
higher decorations than the officers
thought mcrited in some cases and
lower ones ir others.
Secretary Daniels explains at
length the theory on which he dis
agreed with some of the awards as
finally recommended to him and also
how he differentiated between
awards for officers who served at
sea and those who served on land.
Mr.. Daniels refers to his first
communication to Chairman Page in
which he set forth the principle that
the highest distinction should be
conferred upon officers and men who
had come in contact with the ENEMY
and had by courage and judgment
under attack exemplihed the highest
traditions of the service and that the
Distinguished Service Medal should
also be awarded only to these
officers on shore duty who,- in the
language Of the act Of congress, had
distinguished themselves "by excep-
tional1y meritorious service to the
government in duty of great re-
sponsibility."
Follow Act of Congress.
"In thus following the act of con-
gress authorizing three classes of
medals" write the secretary. "honors
less than the distinguished service
medal should be awarded to officers
whose shore duty was rneriforious.
but not of great responsibility
II stated that the service WORTHY
of the highest distinction is that rem
dered aHoat in the presence of the
enemy and that the distinguished
service medal should be awarded to
the captain of every ship struck by
the mines or torpedoes of the enemy
if his conduct was meritorious in
the hour that tests courage and
leadership. I do not think the Amer
lean people can be persuaded to ac
cept the idea that the distinguished
service medal should not be given
to the captain of a ship who bears
himself courageausly in the supreme
hour, for which all other hours in
his naval career were but prepara-
tory, if his ship is lost by submarine
or mine attack. If this theory had
been accepted in former years Law
renee and Porter and other naval
heroes would have been denied sonse
of the early honors which their
countrymen gladly gave them. Each
of them knew what it was to lose
his ship without loss of prestige and
with the satisfaction of receiving ex
pressions of high appreciation OF
their countrymen It is, of course,
the victory in battle which gives
highest glory but medals of distinS-
ton are awarded for exceptionally
meritorious service and Lawrence
was no less deserving of a nations
gratitude when his ship was lost to
bis country than was Perry. who
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