The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-01-20
In the Granting of Naval
Awards for Service
During War
DID NOT INTEND
TO ENTER PROTEST
Testified the U. S. Com
mander in Hearing Before
the Navy Committee.

Washington, D. c., Jan. 20.Real
Admiral Henry B. Mayo, commander
in-chief of the United States feet dur
ing the war, told the Senate commit
tee investigating naval awards to-day
| that has letter to Secretary Daniels on
Dec. 23 declaring that the Knight
| board did not give sufficient consider
alton to service at sea, particularly to
the duties and responsibilities of mem
bers of the staff OF the commander-in
chief of the feet, was not to be consid-
cred in any sense one of protest. He
read the letter at the request of Chair
man Hale.
Admiral Mayo took a view diametri-
cally opposed to that expressed by Rear
Admiral Sims, who told the sub-com-
mittee that the Knight board, in grant
ing awards, gave toe little considera
tion to the records of the officers who
served on shore. The navy department
made public Admiral Mayo's letter on
the subject some days ago.
The examination of Admiral Mayo
began under the ruling made yesterday
by the Senate naval committee that the
present investigation should be confined
entirely TO the question of war deeora
tion awards, charges made by Admiral
Sims that the navy department did
not co operate fully with the allies dur
ing the war being deferred for subse-
quent investigation.
Admiral Mayo said his letter was
written after practically all OF his rec
ommendations had been changed or dis
approved by the board or Secretary
Daniels.
II made very few recommendations
for awards" he said, mostly in the
cases of members of my personal staff,
force commanders and commanders op-
Grating Independently. In the case Of
Captain @. r. Jackson, my chief Of
staff, | took very conservative view
and recommended navy cross. In
view OF other commanders recommend
ing their chief aides for distinguished
service medals, the board increased my
to distinguished
service medal but Secretary Daniels re-
duced it back to navy cross. Captain
Jackson was the only member of my
staff, believe, who finally received any
decoration at all.
Tastifving that Admiral Sims was
supposed TO be" under his command
during the war Admiral Mayo said
that in order TO facilitate matters, Ad
miral Sims did not report to him, but |
directly to the navy department.
Lack Of well defined policy for the
award Of naval honors may have had |
/ bearing on the decoration situation, !
Admiral Mayo said, adding
Both the board and the secretary
were acting within their rights and /
in changing recommends
ions for awards.
But don't you believe, admiral, that !
he board and the secretary should |
rave consulted YOU before changing |
7our recommendations asked Chair
nan Hale.
"No, do not replied the admiral,
4 do not believe It would have been
II might have been desir-
Ible. however"
~ do not say ! was satisfied with
he result Of the action of the board
md the secretary" added Admiral
'lsyo, "but ! do say that they had the
light TO take snch action as they
Wished and TO assume the responsi.
ility.r
Chairman Hale said there was no rec
rd that Commander p. w. Foote, now
ersonal aide to Secretary Daniels, had
een recommended by any officer for
decoration, although the secretary
warded him n distinguished service
MEDAL. Admiral Mayo replied that he
sd approved recommendation by Ad-
iiral Gleaves, commanding the cruiser
nd transport force. that Foote be ,
warded a distinguished service medal.