Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-23
SAYS LOSS OF VESSEL.
SHOULD BAR HONORS
Admiral Knight Opposes Daniels
Position on Stand Before
Naval Board.
by Associate. Press 70 Every EvenIns

by Associated Press to Every Evening
Washington, Jan q. The knight
Board is unable TO agree with SECRETARY
Daniels that nnvv officers who lost their
ships through enemy submarine attacks
and performed merltorious service III
connection with such loss should be award
cd high decorations, the Senate investi-
eating committee was told today by
Rear Admiral Austin NJ. knight, chair
man Of tho board.
Admiral knight said a high decoration
was not deserved unless the sinking was
accomnlI4hcd by action against the enemy.
Admiral Knight sail that in the case
Of Commander - " Ragiey. secretary
Daniels hrothcr-n-nw, no decorations
was recommended for any circumstance
IN connection with the sinking OF the
destroyer Jacob Jones, because Command
or Bagiey did not engage the enemy.
A navy cross was recommend for the
officer, he said. for good seananship dis
plavcd IN taking OF the crew and pas
scugers of the torpcdoed British steamer
Drama
Commander Bagley was not recon-
mended hv his Immediate superior, he
said tor any decoration IN connection
with the sinking Of the jacob Jones.
Officers whose vessels were torpedoed,
hut who hy good seananship and dis
cipllne succeeded IN saving their ships.
earned the D. : NJ, Admiral Knight
declared
1T is true that the board recommended
awards for several Of the officers referred
to hy the secretary. as commanders OF
ships which we're lest or seriously damaged
bv enemy submarines or mines Admiral
Knight said. But in each case there
was q special reason. Captain Vernon,
Of the Cassn. Captain Dlsmukes Of the
Mount Vernon; Captain Chase OF the
Minnesota, and Captain Graham OF the
Finland saved their ships by excellent
searnanship and discipline after the ships
| were disabled
No information was available to guide
| the board in making recommendations
| for Captain Satterlee Of the Tampa and
| Commander Ghent of the Antilles, nor
were anv circumstances known that would
| Justify such awards ADMIRAL Knight
said, Secretary Daniels awarded the ID.
| :. NJ to both officers. Both the Tampa
| and Antilles were torpedoed and sunk.
| Commander Foote'S case is the only
one in which the board recommended the
| award Of q d. 5. NJ for circumstances
i. connected alone with the less of a ship, .
/ Admiral Knight SAID, and this recon-
mendati0n was based chiefly upon the
1 recommendations Of Admiral Gleayes
ana Admiral Mayo.
| The award recommended for Captain
! Christy. the Admiral said, was based not
only on his conduct at the time OF the
| sinking OF his ship, the armored cruiser
+. San Diego. but for his later service IN
command Of the battleship Wyoming.
! Commander Conn was not recommended
/ for award in connection with the loss Of
| his ship. the Yacht Alcedo, the witness
continued but was recommended Tor a
Navy Cross under the general citation
gwen destroyer commanders.
+ The case of q ship destroyed by an
enemy against which she had no oppor-
! tunitv to FIRE shot said Admiral
Knight Is, in the opinion Of the board,
widely different from the cases of Law
rense and Perry. cited by the secretary
! inhN letter Of January to Senator Page.
Lawrence owes his fame not TO his
| conduct after the loss of his ship, when
| he was helpless and dying, but TO the
:! heroic spirit hc maintained throughout
! the engagement, 8 spirit that did not
! falter even when lac was fatally wounded
| 1t was bcforc-not- the loss of his
/ ship that he uttered the words that have
made his name immortal and which are
quoted bv the secretary rs establishing
q precedent for his action III certain eases.
Perry is remembered IN history not
| for his gaIlantry in leaving the wreck
| of the Lawrence under fire, but for the
| indomitable spirit in which he resumed
| the fight on the Niagara and the skill
| and daring with which he led his almost
| defeated fleet to victory.