Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-02-10
SIMS FIGHT ON
OFFICER Barred
Daniels Says Admiral Let Per-
sOnal Affairs Affect Award.
OPPOSED WILSON FOR POST
Secretary Tells Senatorc Navy Honors
Are Given for Merit Regardless of
Rank-Records Show Blue
Jackets in Many Battles.

JSSN~So fTdhy D0ehiNSs
Washington, Feb. 4-Personal differ
ences developing between Rear Ad-
miral William S. Sims and Admiral
Henry B. Wilson, former commander
of American naval forces off the
omission of Admiral Wilson's name
from the list of officers recommended
for medals by Admiral Sims, the SEN
ate committee investigating naval dec
OratiOns was told by Secretary Daniels.
"While Admiral Sims recommended
young officers who served well in
minor posts for distinguished service
medals and other flag officers under his
command for che same honor" said
Mr.. Daniels, she omitted that distin-
guished admiral who commanded al
American naval forces off the French
coast, Rear Admiral Wilson, now com
mander-in-ehief of the Atlantic fleet.
"When the history of the war is
written Admiral Wilson's service will
stand as high as that Of Sims, Mayo,
Benson or ROdman."
Sims Sent Protest.
When it was decided to appoint Adj
miral Wilson eOmmander-in-chiefO of the
Atlantic fleet, Secretary Daniels said,
Admiral Sims wrote a letter of pro-
test. Characterizing the contemplated
appointment as every grave mistake
indeed" the letter called Secretary
Daniels attention to the trouble Adj
miral Wilson gave me in the discharge
of my duties"
II attempted TO correct 1t by per-
sonal letters" Admiral Sims letter
said. admiral Wilson criticized not
only this organization, but me personal
ly, including that most destructive of
all criticisms, the impugning of mo-
tives."
Secretary Daniels appeared before
the committee to answer criticisms of
Admiral Sims and other officers of the
manner In which naval decorations
were awarded.
Asserting that Admiral Sims while
on shore duty both in the Spanish
America and world war demon
strated ability of a high order" Secre-
tary Daniels said "the position of Rear
Admiral Sims In placing shore duty
above sea duty in the danger zone is,
no doubt, Influenced by his own rec
ord"
Figures were presented by Mr.. DAN
iels showing that during the last %
years Admiral Sims had served about
is years on shore duty and nine years
at sea.
Referring to Sims criticism that his
recommendation of a distinguished
service medal for Commander J. G.
Babcock, his chief of staff, and his
everything had not been followed,
Secretary Daniels said:
"If I had thought Commander Bah
cock the everything of the navy across
the sea, / certainly would have sent
him to represent the navy Instead of
Admiral Sims l do not believe in
having two supermen to do a one-man
JOB"
q Precedence in Foreign Navies.
Turning TO an analysis of Rear Adj
-miral Sims criticism OF the award of
honors to commanding officers who lost
their ships, Secretary Daniels read re-
ports from the department of naval
intelligence showing the award by the
French, Italian, Japanese and British
governments of medals to many officers
whose ships were sunk by submarines,
mines or enemy gunfire.
When Secretary Daniels finished
reading his statement Chairman Hale
announced that the committee would
adjourn until Friday to give the men,
bers an opportunity to study carefully
the secretary's statement. Mr.. Daniels
will appear before the committee again
Friday.
Referring to the record of Admiral
Sims testimony before the committee
Secretary Daniels said:
admiral Sims says our navy was
not in this war in fighting sense. We
were acting as motor lorries behind
the army except that we were on the
water There was no fighting on the
seq.
"If Admiral Sims had told the men
on our vessels operating in the war
zone that they were not really fighting
and that their ships were only motor
lorries' he would have had revolt i'm
his command.
Thought II Was Fighting, Anyhow.
THE crews of our destroyers and
patrol craft constantly hunting and
often attacking submarines. thought
they were fighting The armed guards
on American merchant vessels which
repealed numerous attacks thought they
were fighting when they kept their
guns firing az the enemy while shells
rained around them.
1.-The crews of the Stanch little sub
chaserS had an idea they were fight
ing-and fighting pretty well-when
they led the attack on Durazzo. cleared
mines from the path of the big war
ships and. under heavy fire from the
Austrian forts, sent down two sub
marines"
No Distinction for Rank.
Referring TO Admiral Sims state
pent that he had not recommended