Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-02-16
SENATORSSEE
MEDAL PROBE
MERE FIZZLE
Ask What Are Benefits from
Inquiry Into Sine-Daniels
Spat?
BY GEORGE b. WATERS.
Newspaper Enterprise Star Correspond


BY GEORGE b. WATERS.
Newspaper Enterprise StaH Correspond
ent.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-What are the
benefits to be derived from the Sims
Daniels controversy and the long "inves-
tigation" by the senate naval commit
tee, resulting? What is all the turmoil
over naval awards about? How is II
going to benefit either the United States
government or the man in the street?
asked Senator Key Pittman. Tono-
pah, New, a member OF the subcommit-
tee of the naval affairs committee, 70
enumerate some of the benefits of the
hearing.
There is not a d one" he said.
81 asked Admiral Sims that same ques-
tion. He said, there are none ! said.
then why are we here1' He said, i
don't know, unless for politics.
THAT is the whole thing In a nutshell.
The questions about naval awards are
purely academic. We are just trying to
unravel a relatively unimportant prob
lem for the historians.
ONLY WASTING TINE,
SENATOR'S AGREE.
ASKED both Senator's Pfttman and
Frederick Hale, Portland, Me-. the chair
man of the subcommittee. If there was u
chance that the hearing might lower liv-
ing costs, relate the currency or settle
the transportation muddle.
Were wasting time," said Senator
Pittman. Senator Hale declined to he
quoted but assured me that ne had mot
launched the Investigation"
The testimony on the one point Of
awards now covers 1000 printed pages.
In a short time the committee will start
a probe into charges made by Sims In
his letter TO Secretary Daniels. involving
the alleged lack of teamwork In the naval
forces during the war. That hearing will
settle nothing.
On the matter of naval wards the
committee will soon submit its report,
majority and minority, to the senate.
What has the hearing revealed? On
Jan. Admiral Sims made public II let
ter he had written to Daniels. refusing
to accept a distinguished service medal,
on the grounds that Daniels had arbi-
trarily changed the awards of navy
crosses, distinguished service medals and
medals of honor made by the board Of
awards, headed by Admiral knight. and
composed of fifteen or twenty other ma
val officers. A hearing was started. Ad-
miral Sims testified his orders were when
he was sent across to mot let the Brit
ish pull the wool over his eyes" and I'VE
would as soon fight the British as the
Germans" This was before the United
States entered the war.
STORY OF MEDAL
TO DANIELS KIN.
Then Admiral Sims sprung the story
about the distinguished service medal
awarded to Commander David W. Bag
ley of the lost ship Jacob Jones, brother
in law to Daniels
As matter Of fact the only award
that has actually been made is o dis
tlnguished service medal to Rear Ad-
miral William I. Benson, chief of the
naval operations, and ranking officer of
the navy during the war. This was done
by President Wilson. The president is
required to pass On all awards.
There have been published the MINES
Of 261 enlisted men and S73 officers for
the navy cross, 121 officers and 13 en-
listed men for the distinguished service
medal and eight officers and five enlisted
men for the medal of honor
Daniels referred the awards recon-
mended by Admiral Sims back to the
board and it o. KID the recommendations
for medals and crosses that have been
published. He denied that he had given
Sims the orders not to let the British
pull the wool over his eyes Regarding
his brother law getting a d S. NJ, he
showed that the board of awards 0. KID
such honors for all commanders WHO
lost ships and showed their dauntless
spirit.