South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-01-05
STATES WHY
WAR AWARDS
WE'RE GIVEN
SeC'y Daniels Sends Letter to
Chairman Page Explain
ing Action.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONEJ
service medal should be- awarded to
The captain Of every ship struck by
he mines or torpedoes of the enemy
II his conduct vas meritorius in The
hour that tests courage and leader
ship I do not think the American
people can be persuaded 10 accept
the idea that the distinguished serv-
ice medal should not be given 10 the
.aptain Of 2 ship WhO bears himself
cOurageously I'm tho supreme hour
for which ali other hours In his ma
val career were but preparatory, If
iIis ship is lost by submarine or mine
attack II this theory had been ac-
,epted I'm former years, Lawrence
and Porter and other naval heroes
would have been denied some OF the
early honors which their country
men gladly gave them Each of them
knew what it was TO lose his ship
without loss OF prestige and with the
satisfaction OF receiving expressions
of high appreciation OF their COun-
trymen. II is. Of course, the victory
ir battle which gives highest glory
but medals Of distinction are award
cd for exceptionally meritorious ser
vice and Lawrence was no less de
serving Of "a nations gratitude when
his ship was lost 10 his country than
was Perry. who leaving his sinking
ship. won victory after transferring
his flax from the Lawrence TO the
Niagara
selected Ten Men.
Ten commanding officers Of ships
tOrpedOed and sunk or put oIt Of
action were selected as worthy OF re-
ceiving the distinguished service
Tuedal. These awards. as ! stated IN
my previous letter. were made with
out exception TO every cOmmandins
officer whose ship felt the blow Of
the enemy except one who was court
martialled and who. though fully ac-
quilted. has no recommendation
fro=l any superior officer for recog-
milton OF any character. Admiral
Wilson st5.;ed officially that the fail
ure of Capt HasbrouCk 20 return TO
his ship at daylight with a salvage
party was an Offense more serious
than an error Of judgment. and Ad-
miral Glcavcs stated officially that
though the court fully acquitted
him. my own opinion is such that
cannot recommend him for the
award. either for a medal or cross
However. because of his previous
service in the transportation of
troops and without reference TO his
action after his ship was torpedoed,
capt. Has5rOuCk was selected BY my
director for a naval cross. the same
as was awarded TO commanding Of
icers OF other transports Capt.
Hasbrouck writes ne does not desire .
20 accept this medal
Further Awards
instructions have been given for
the fullest investigation with a view
Of further awards 10 other officers
and men ON these and any other
ships who rendered meritorius serv-
zee by reason OF attack by enemy
ships
81 ann appendinE "a brief state
ment of the cases where the distin-
suished service medals were an
nounced where ships were torpedoed
or came in contact with mines and
were either sunk or put out of aC-
ton \ mere reading of the plain
rec .al .u eacn of these ten attacks
and thc remeauor of the command
ing officers viii leave no room 20
doubt that If awards are 20 be given
Tor GOODNESS and judgment in danger.
AL So
splendid courage To any men who
gave glory Co the navy i'm the world
war they should go to all ten Of
cheese commanding officers and dis
inct houors should likewise go 10
other brave officers and men under
attack.
Duty OF OFFICERS.
eve cannot give too much honor
to the commanding officers of sur
face ships which were able To sink
coz destroy "a submarine The truth
must also he recognized. however.
that the courage. skill. determine
lion. resourcefulness. foresight and
Judgment OF officers whose ships
were torpedoed and suddenly sunk
are put 10 quite as severe test as
n the case or commanding officers
of surface ships which see and sink
the enemy. Nobody has suggested
that an officer had been honored be
cause his ship was sunk hy q sub
marine But il is clear that when a
ship Is sunk the commanding officer
should be rewarded II he meets this
supreme crisis with pol>e. with utter
fearlessness. with thought of his men
above himself with the utilization
OF all those attributes that show a
man hero when the hour strikes
for his Supreme trial To deny this
principle is 90 deny one OF the bases
OF the moral law. The greatest thin-
that a man ever does in this world
is 90 turn a stumbling block into
stepping stone Tf medals are not
given for this sort Of thing not what
on earth are they desigucd for"
Incorporated iu The letter were tie
records OF all the officers who lost
their vessels. includinS Commands
- w. Bagley, nephew OF AIRS Dam
iels AID Commando Percy ". Toote
the secretary's personal aide. about
whom much OF the controversy has