The New York herald., 1920-01-17
MORALE Of NAVY
SHOT TO PIECES,
DECLARES SIMS
Rear Admiral Shows Anger at
Hearing of Dispute Over
Naval Awards.
INSISTS FAVORITISM
GOVERNED HONORS
Quotes Letter to Prove Daniels
Anxiety Concerning Medal for
Brother-in-Law.
Herald Bureau,
No. 500 III Street, n. W.,
W1Rhln gtOu. ID. C.. Friday.

With characteristic buntness and even
a show of anger at times, eRar Admiral
william, s. Sims, who commanded the
American naval forces in European waters
during the war and is now president of
the Naval War College. explained today
to subcommittee of the Senate Com
mittee on Naval Affairs why he has taken
sharp issue with Josephus Daniels Secre-
tary of the Navy, over the award of
medals for bravery and distinguished SER
vice. He declared that favoritism in the
distribution of the medals has just about
completed the Generalization Of the navy.
"The morale of the navy is all shot
to pieces: we've got no navy left-this is
the last straw" Rear Admiral Sims ex-
claimed, hotly when Democratic members
OF the investigating committee sought to
defend Mr.. Daniels conducts.
The award of the Distinguished Service
Medal to Commander David Worth Bag
ley. brother-in-law of Secretary Daniels.
who commanded the destroyer Jacob
Jones, sunk by German submarine. was
singled out by Rear Admiral Sims as the
most conspicuous and flagrant instance Of
favoritism.
Destroyed Naval Morale.
That's the stuff that has destroyed the
navys morale declared the Admiral. 1T
is subject of ridicult in the navy"
As proof OF Mr. Daniels eagerncsS to
see Commander Bagley decorated with the
Distinguished Service Medal. Rear Ad-
miral Sims submitted to the committee
the following letter. dated November 10,
l9lS in Mr.. Daniels own handwriting
Dear Admral:-What recommendations
did you make as to a mesial for Bagley
49, .Ft 81 a
other destroyers that were attacked.
have not copy of he report before me,
and I would like copy of any letter you
wrote Bagley or any recommendation.
Sincerely yours,
signed, JosEPHUs DANIELS"
Rear Admiral Sims considered 1t wholly
unwarranted to award medals to officers
of destroyers just because they happened
to ct torpedoed by submarines, which they
were supposed to be watching. On the
other hand, he was equally incensed at
the Secretary's refusal to recognize many
of the recommendations he had made.
Secretary Daniels declined to comment on
any OF the officers statements.
Admiral Sims told of the case of Com
mander j. v. Babcock. his chief of staff,
who drew up the plans for the transort
of 100000 American soldiers across the
Atlantic. He declared that the American
other man in the navy"
The Rear Admiral recommended the d.
IS. M. for Commander Babcock. and Mr..
Daniels gave him a cross. Commander
Bagley was recommended for cross; Mr..
Daniels gave him a medal
Not Even Morale Left Now.
'The navys morale is all shot to pieces /:
we've got no navy left" the Admiral
reiterated.
"Oh. we heard that kind of talk before
the war" interrupted Senator Pittman,
Democrat of Nevada.
Before the war we had n little morale
now we haven't even that left" the Rear
Admiral snapped back.
Senator Trammell, of Florida, Democrat.
undertook TO defend Mr.. Daniels action
and attacked Rear Admiral Sims for not
recommending the Distinguished Service
Medal for some enlisted men. This an
gered tho Rear Admiral. and he struck
back in the gruft vernacular of the sea
much TO the amusement OF the audience
lie expressed amazement at Senator Tram
melrs inability to see his point
Now, I'm going over this once more"
said the Admiral, 'and then IL you don't
get it, Senator. I'm going to give up"
Few Chances for Men.
The Rear Admiral then went on TO OK.
plain that the American navys part in the
war had been devoid OF actual contact
with the enemy, so that service on the sea