South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-03-08
FINDINGS OF
NAVAL PROBE
MEN ON FILE
Chairman Page of Award
Committee Makes Public
Result of Investigation.

WASHINGTON, March =. - The
wrangle over awards to navy OH
GERS Of war decorations drew nearer
conclusion Sunday night when
Chairman Page of the senate naval
committee made public the trio of
reports the investigators OF the sub
committee prOduced-
The three republican members
Joined i'm the majority report, which
sharply criticized Secy Daniels I'm
some respects, while the two demo
Gratis submitted individual reports
defending tine secretary's course and
directing their attack. in turn at
Rear Admiral William $. Sims the
most prominent figure in the con-
troversy stirred up over navy med
ais and crosses.
Reports Unique.
In one respect the three reports
are unique They agree on two
points that no permanent harm has
come TO naval morale as a result
of the awards or the controversy
and that enlisted men received too
small a share Of recognition for
their services.
The majority report. signed by
Sens. Hale. Mccormick and Poin-
dexter arraigus Mr.. Daniels for not
having fully advised officers as TO
his plans i'm making awards and as
serted that his policy OF decorating
officers who lost ships would be de
trimental TO the navy.
Sen. Pittman, in the first minori-
" report, characterized the investi-
cation as a tempest in a teapot.
too ridiculous TO be mentioned in
connection with the morale of a
lighting navy.
Morale Unframed.
In the second minority report Sen.
Trammell, declared fatty that navy
morale had not been harmed as
Admiral Sims had contended and
asserted that Mr.. Daniels followed
custom in changing recommends
tions Of his subordinates as those
officers themselves had done with
proposals OF theirs.
The majority report reached the
following conclusions:
That Sec'y Daniels did not make
knoan 20 the service his policy as
TO awards especially with regard 10
the relative Importance of duty on
shore and ahOat Fewer changes
would have been necessary later
had he done so, the report said.
Merit of HOnOrs.
That the secretary did not as
certain from the office who recon-
mended hOnors the relative order Of
merit and did not himself give suf-
/ fCient consideration 10 that ques-
ton. injury to morale and deprecia
ton OF the value OF awards result
ing.
The majority laid stress on its
statement that no attempt had been
made TO ascertain the order o. merit
among those recomm erded for dec
orations. This was most unfOrtu-
nate IL added and the signers be-
lieved commanding officers were
best able 10 gauge relative merit.
Had such a policy prevailed 1t
j continued. the subcommittee - of
the opinion that the men most en-
titled TO awards would have receiv-
ed them
Sen. Pittman COntended that the
investigation was unnecessary be-
cause the naval award matter was
being reinvestigated by the Knight
board by direction of Sec'y Daniels
when the investigating committee
was appointed.
Like most congressional inves-
legations OF "a similar charcter'' he
said. ZIG served no beneficial pur-
Airing of Grievances.
"The airing of the personal Sriev-
auCes OF am admiral and giving pub
licitv 20 critical and depreciatory
statements made oy the admiral
with regard TO the accomplishments
Of the navy during the war tended
TO besmear "a glory never before
questioned. Sen. Pittman said.
Admiral Sims believed. the scna-
tor said. that the distinguished scr
vice medal should only be awarded
To a. few OF the highest officers sn
the navy and that IL would be