The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-02-03
DIRECT SHARP
 ISSUE TAKEN BY SECRETARY
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(Continued from Page one,1 ously damaged by enemy submarines or mines.
 Asserting that Admiral Sims while on shore duty both in the Spanish American and worDd war demon strated ability of a. high order" Sec retary Daniels said, 'Srhe- position of Rear Admiral Sims in placing shore duty above sea duty in the danger zone is, no doubt, influenced by his own record" Figures were presented by MT. Daniels showing that during the last 25 years Admiral Sims had served about 16 years on shore and nine years at sea.
 50 rarely did he take a. sea trip" said the secretary, referring to the Admiral's work as commander of the United States Naval Forces in Euro pean waters, ''that in his book he tells 8 story of one of the few times he was afloat, going with the British ad- mfral who had been placed by Rear Admiral Sims in command Of the American destroyers based on Queens town"
 As justifying his contention that in- dividual duties ashore are necessarily of secondary important to duties afloat, MT. Daniels asserted:
 "On shore man decides import ant questions in the quiet of office surroundings with time to weigh the pros and cons, and if he makes a mistake his error of decision is not immediately followed by disastrous results. At sea, particularly in sub marine warfare, the commander, like all his men. is in imminent peril of death. He must make momentous decisions in the flash of a single mo- ment, often when his ship has been attacked, and when coolness and boise are necessary to save the lives of scores and hundreds of men. A mistake in this emergency is fatal to an officer in command at sea-
 With this as an impelling reason. the secretary said, he disapproved of the disparity between honorS to men ashore and ahoat as recommended by the Knight Board, and accordingly reduced and eliminated @ number of awards for shore service.
 In support of his contention that 2 commander of a ship sunk or dam aged by submarine attack was enti- tied to a medal if he showed proper qualifications, even though his ship was unable to combat the submarine, Secretary Daniels cited numerous ex- amp1es in American naval history an also pointed to instances of such awards by the French government during the World War. American naval history, he told the commit tee, was filled with precedent up holding his action In awarding the Distinguished Service Medal to com manderss of ships sunk by submarine or mines.
 Tn the stiletto attack of submar- inc warfare,' said MT. Daniels, ''it is not the fact that a man strikes ol Is struck that tests true mettle and true naval leadership. The question is: Does he play the part of the ! man, with chivalry and thought only 1 of others and of his country? Ant has he by preparation and foresigh 1 done all that is possible to meet any 1 and every emergency? And when Il, faces court of his brother officers do they find that he has measured | up in the terrible ordeal to the high 1 naval traditions? Admirals Mayo anC | Gleaves and Vice Admiral Grant rec | commended commanding officers un der them for Distinguished Servic, Medals who displayed these higE | qualities when their ships, struck by | mines or torpedoes, were sunk ol | damaged. The board of awards ap l proved their recommend dations. Tn,
 
 | In this world is to turn a stumbling | block into a stepping stone. If med als are not given for this sort of no | b1e courage and coo1ness and direc don in supreme danger, what ol 1 earth are they designed for?'' 1 Referring to Admiral Sims state i ment that he had not recommendet | any enlisted men for medals becaus, i've had nothing to give them," tn, secretary called the committees at 1 tention to the act creating the awards l which he said made no distinction 1 between an admiral, captain and en | listed man.
 Tt is the service he renders. tht service in peril, and not his rank tha | counts" he added. There are oc casions when a ship is threatened | with destruction and vixen for tht moment, it's safety and protection de. bends on an enlisted man and he ii then in a position of great responsi bility, and if he performs his dutie l at that moment with courage and de | votion, he is fully entitled to the re 1 cognition of his conduct by the Dis i tinpIJiSha1 CcrJyioo Ha1