Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-01-17
MEDAL AWARDS HARMFUL
TO NAVY, Sims DECLARES
Commander Of Fleet Overseas SAYS
Morale OF Service Has Been
Shot to Pieces.
CRITICIZES DANIELS POLICY
Tells Senate Probcrs Whole System
Is Wrong and Favors Wiping Out
Awards and Making Entire New
Start.
CRITICIZEs DANIELS POLICY
EBv Universal Service.

WASHINGTON, Jan. l6.-Sharp criti-
cism of Secretary Daniels policies in
the conduct or the navy was uttered
today at tho opening OF the Senate sub
committees investigation OF the man
ner in which awards for distin guished
service in the war were made.
Admiral Sims. who was supreme
commander OF the American naval op-
erations abroad. declared that the
awards had been characterized by ex-
treme tavoritism 10 officers who per-
FORMED no real service of diStin-
suished character and that the morale
OF the service had been all shot to
pieces by The methods adopted by
Ihc Admiral related 70 the commit
,eS wSo huIi,nGts nnne OF cases in which officers
We're marked down" by the reviewing
board appointed by Secretary Daniels
or 9E secretary Daniels himself He
was BADLY managed" and that it was
Il subject of ridicuie throughout the
Wanted Definite Policy.
Secretary Daniels had been advised
ny him TO announce a definite policy
IN ma TeSd}rd 3si}na to 10 the award of medals. but
III this had been done, the trouble and
unpleasant publicity growing out of
tIn the changing of the recommendation
prevented" he added.
e, throughout his testimony. Admiral
sims spoke with absolute frankness In
tary Daniels did in making the awards
Az times he was drawn into tilts with
senators Pittman and Trammell. the
Democratic members of the subcommit-
tee who undertook to defend Secretary
Daniels course. At one time in the
eSSamlnation ,Ss the admiral complained
courteously to- him and he Complained
. :a,.so that senator Pittman had his
,iD Iacts al wrong" in trying to trip him
!. Admiral Sims began his testimony by
Leaains a prepared statement In which
ne asserted that he had no personal
test against the awards was based en-
tirely upon his desire to see Justice
nohc non & to The , men in the service who
said he believed it his duty TO present
thc views OF the officers, who are pro-
nniblted by the rules OF the service
from making any statement upon their
own part.
rns bitterly s,n,y pIsHpproyes Actions.
,, inc ADMIRAL expressed bitter disap-
els and reviewing board headed by
hear- Admiral Knight in setting aside
.he recommendations made by the
abroad. He said:
think the entire system of awards
M,,S Us %FonF' eng u, If the government could
better Oft. Much OF the trouble could
a, n1re been avoided II the commanding
] o,tcers mad been consulted. I did
everything l could to prevent the trou
nte coming on. l have been in the
navy navy Iorty-ive years and know how
tne me tra,ditions ., OF the service have all
Deen violated by this method OF nal
ing the awards" AZ"
Enumerating some of the cases which
r%aMc % under his particular notice, Ad-
,hirai thai SIMS said he had recommends
tnree men for the Distinguished Ser
onis o1Ge MEDAL and all were refused. The
aS III man under him who was given
.nc -; ;. NJ, he said. was an offlcer
who w, aid nothing except to be captured