The New York herald., 1920-01-17
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had not afforded any unusual opportunity
for either officers or men to distinguish
themselves over their fellow officers or
men on shore duty. Since the service was
largely routine there had been few in
stances where enlisted men had had a
chance to win glory or fame by gallantry
in action.
The interest which the controversy has
aroused in the capital was reflected in the
crowd which gathered in the committee
room while the hearing was in progress.
Many of the most interested auditors were
women, wives and relatives of naval Off
GERS, whose names either appear or do not
appear in the list of those decorated.
Rear Admiral Sims at the outset indi-
Gated that he was averse to bringing be-
fore the public such naval controversies
as that which has arisen over the Naval
awards, but having embarked upon the
role of chief critic Of the naval admins
traton, he was obviously determined to
play the part without restraint. Criti-
csing the navy he said, was legitimate
function of all officers.
Rear Admiral Sims early in the hearing
expressed the opinion that 1t would have
been better had no medals at all been
awarded.
'If this government could see its way
clear" he said, ito wipe out the whole
business and start clean, think a nlajori-
ty of the service would be pleased The
whole business always leads to trouble. !
saw this coming and tried by every means
10 head it off before ii became public. II
l could have had my way the matter would
have been settled without a peep IN the
newspapers and we wouldn't be waghing
our dirty linen this way"
Senators Clash mt Hearing.
At the opening OF the hearing Republican
and Democratic members of the committee
clashed when Senator Pittnlan moved TO
have Secretary Daniels TESTIFY first hear
Admiral Sims sat patiently at one end
OF the committee table while the matter
was threshed out.
I've ought 10 conduct this hearing with
at least police court Justice Senator
Pittman protested. ''Inasmuch as the
Secretary of the Navy appears to be on
trial. l think we ought TO give him
hearing"
"If it is a trial. as you say. there is no
precedent for hearing the defendant first
Senator Hale. chairman retorted.
Admiral Sims reviewed the history OF
the controversy, which became known
TO the public through a letter he wrote
Secretary Daniels, December IL. He had
previously taken the matter UP with Mr
Daniels and the Knight Board in an ef-
fort TO settle the controversy within the
navy. he told the committee.
Public Kept in Ignorance.
In formal statement Rear Admiral Sims
declared that a form OF censorship pre-
vents constructive criticism from navy
officials, and that as a result the United
States Navy 10 trailing other nations. lie
said -
1--WE are always considerably behind
them in this respect because our navy
lacks constructive criticism from the pub
lie and necessarily so, because our naval
officers are forbidden to publish anything
without the permission of and usually
censorship By the department. This is. 10
say the least, a singular regulation 10 be
enforced in democratic form OF govern
nent. The inevitable result is that the
American public knows less about naval
matters than the public OF any other con-
siderable maritime power because the Of
ficers of the latter are permitted, under
certain regulations. when not on duty. to
publish any article in criticism or susges-
ton which in their judgment will be OF
benefit to their service or their country.
A similar permission granted to American
naval officers would not only be Of great
benefit TO the public and the navy. but
the navy cannot attain its maximum of-
ficioncy without IT.
Rear Admiral Sims explained that criti-
CtsDn OF nHVAl dWHiuH UVth iVb HiVN'tN
from personal motives.
"T had no intention of kicking up n row
and only sought to do my duty the Of
ficer said
Praises chief OF staff.
Repeatedly tho Admiral paid the highest
tribute TO the men who served on his staff.
I'm his grim sea language the Admiral men
toned the work OF Commander j. V. Bah
cock who drew up the plans for conveying
transports across the Atlantic.
II knew that II we had had any consid-
erabe disaster TO n troop transport "
would have involved my mock" he ox-
planned with a grin. but nevertheless
delegated this matter TO a member or my
staff. and so confident was ! of his ability
that | never gave the matter a. moment s
thought except when something was
brought 70 inc
There was no officer to whom the
people owe so much" the Rear Admiral
continued warmly. IF the Secretary
had made no other change. that in IT.
self was destructive OF the morale.
Senator Pittmsn again drew the Roar
Admirals fire when he asked IL some
one beside the commanding officer
shouldn't decide whether his staff is
tho greatest staff in the wordl"
II never said my staff was the great
est staff in the world" Rear Admiral
M oy1 "A