The Washington times., 1920-02-07
SIMS TOOK MEDAL
AGAINST us. IDEALS
Daniels Denies British Decora.
tion Offer Spurred Morale
of Men. =
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Continued from First Page.)
er.in-chief of all armies in the feld
recommended the armistice.
Senator Hale asked IL the reference
made by Daniels in testimony pre-
viously given. concerning Sims duty
on shore was meant TO be r. reflectioh'
Certainly. not" Daniels said. 1T
was to point out the part that a man
who has served on shore might be LED
to overestimate shore duty"
Senator Mccormick read the Dan
ieis letter tothe House Naval Affairs
Committee, asking that Admirals
Sims and Benson be made permanent
admirals in which Daniels praised the
admiral.
Before authorized to do SO by the
Navy Department, Admiral Sims ac-
cepted a decoration by the British
government, Daniels said.
He explained that Sims acted under
the authority GRANTED by the act au-
thorizing "officers Of the military
to receive SUCH honors. This was
against the win y the department.
Daniels said. The law since has been
accepted to sustain Sims contention.
Accepted British Honor.
The attitude Of Admiral Sims. favor
ing the acceptance Of foreign honor
by men and officers of the United
States Navy, was scored by Daniels.
81 do not believe for a moment that
the mere fact that the British govern
ment had expressed a desire to award
decorations to- certain OF our ships
Influenced the morale or fghting
spirit of the men," Secretary Daniels
said.
Outlining his opinion and that of
Sims, Daniels said:
There was a wide difference Of
opinion between the Secretary Of the
Navy and Rear Admiral Sims with
reference to medals or decorations
conferred by foreign governments. 1
did not believe that men in the
American naval service should accept
decorations or medals from foreign
governments. holding that 1t was con-
trary to American ideals. laws and
traditions.
should Not Take Medals
my view was, and that view has
been strengthened since the war. that
no Americans in the naval service
should accept any medal or decora-
tion from any government except his
own government. The rear admiral
was made acquainted with the fact
that this view was the policy of the
Navy Department.
Rear Admiral Sims desired the
bestowal and acceptance of such
decorations. In letter dated De-
cember 3O 1917, he asked the policy
Of the department in the following
statement of his view:
1.-The force commander recon-
mends that steps be taken to obtain
explanation which will permit United
states naval personnel to accept de-
corations -of foreign governments.
Experience in this force demonstrates
clearly that such recognition is
priced as highly by our personnel as
1t is by the personnel of foreign serv-
ices. Its effect upon morale and ef-
ficiency is marked. The mere fact
that the British government has ex-
pressed a desire to award decora-
known and its effect was pro-
nounced.'
Foreign Decoration Opposed.
"To this pronounccment / did then
1 do not believe for a moment that
the mere fact that the British gov
verment' had expressed a desire to
award decorations to certain of our
! ships influenced the morale or fight
ing spirit OF the men in the least
Its effect may have been 'pronunced'
upon those more eager for British
honors than American appreciation.
but in tho American Navy that num-
ber is negligible. l was, and am
personally opposed, to a foreign de-
coration upon the ancient American
principle embodied in our laws and
customs which was properly based
upon the belief that IL such decora-
tions could be accepted there would
not be wanting a few man in our
service whose desire to obtain them
would make them solicitous of Sc
curing foreign APPROVAL and favor.
Such an attitude would be subver-
sive of the perfect independence of,
and freedom from, obligation in the
slightest degree to any foreign ma
tion, even to the most friendly ma
tion. with whom we might for the
time being associated In war
Legislation was not contained In
the naval bill authorizing foreign
awards" Secretary Daniels said. 81
had not recommended such authority
because / did not believe in 1t and
I don't believe the Naval Affairs Com
mittee would have incorporated such
a provision. The words military
forces of the United States serving
in the present war in the army bill
were, however, construed by the law
offices to include men serving in the
naval service and the Marine Corps"
Daniels continued.
Admiral Sims never made A recon-
mendation according TO law until the
board of awards had adjourned" Dam
iels said returning to the question OF
general medal awards.
How did the Knight board make