The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-01-05
SECRETARY DANIELS
DEFENDS COURSE IN
GIVING OF AWARDS

| WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.-Secretary
Daniels replied to-day To attacks on his
! awards of navy decorations IN a letter
to Chairman Page Of the senate nara!
committee, which, with the house naval
| committee, probably will investigate the
whole row precipitated by the refusal
| of Rear Admiral Sims and other officers
to accept the decorations awarded to
| them.
The complaint OF the officers was
that in some Instances Secretary DAN
! iels had changed the recommendations
of the official board which sat on the
cases, bestowing higher decorations
than the officers thought meritcd In
| some cases and lower ones in others.
/ Beside reviewing the details OF each
! case and quoting from the findings OF
| original boards OF inquiry in the cases
! Secretary Daniels explains at length
! the theory on which he disagreed with
| some OF the awards as finally recon-
! mcndcd to him.
| The secretary explains also how he
! differentiated between awards for Off
, GERS who served at sea and those VINO
! served on land.
Mr.. Daniels refers to his first COM
! cunication to Chairman Pag" in which
/ he set forth the principle that the high
! est distinction should be conferred upon
officers and men who had com" in con-
/ tact with the enemy and had by courage
: and Judgment under attack cNcmplificd
! the highest traditions of the service
! and that tho distinguished service
! medals should also be awarded only to
those officers on shore duty who in
: the language OF the act Of congress,
! had distinguished themselves by eN-
] ceptionally meritoriouS service 10 the
government in duty OF great RESPONSE
hIlity."
. In thus following the act OF con:
gresS authorizing their classes of
medals" wrote the secretary. "honois
! less than IN" distinguished service
! IL a H., lad n of
whose shor" duty was m"ritorious but
! not of great responsibility
1T stated that the service worthy OF
I the highest distinction Is that rendered
afloat in tn, presence of III" enemy and
! that tho distinguished service media
I should be awarded Ia IN" captain Of
! every ship struck by the mines or tor
pcdocs of the enemy If his conduct was
mcri,orious in the hour that tests cour-
! age and leadership. | do not think the
American people can be pcrsuagcd To
accept the idea that the distinguished
service medal should not be given TO
the captain OF a ship who bears him
! self COuragenuSly in the supreme hour
! for which all other hours In his naval
career were but preparatory. II his ship
is lost by submarine or mine attack.
/ x
Ten commanding officers Of the
! ships torpcdocd and sunk or put out Of &C
,tion were selected as worthy of rcCciv-
! ing the distinguished service medal.
| These awards. as I stated in my pre-
/ vious letter were made without eXCcp-
ton TO every commanding officer whose
! ships felt the blow Of the enemy except
! one who vas court-martialcd and who.
| though fully acquitted. has no recon-
mendation from any superior officer for
recognition Of any character. Admiral
! Wilson stated officially that the fail
ure of Captain HaShrouck to return to
his ship at daylight with salvage par
~ was an offcnsc more serious than an
| I'D lfrnIr al laa voc
stated officially that enough the court
fully acquitted him, my own opinion is
| such that | cannot recommend him FOR
| the award. either for medal or a
| cross However. because OF his preri-
Gus service in the transportation Of
! troops and without reference 10 his ac-
| ton after his ship was torpedocd. Cap
| tain HaSbrouCk was selected by my di-
was awrded to commanding officers OF
other transports. Captain HaShrouck
writes ne does not desire to accept this
| medal. K X
| instructions have been given Tor the
| fullest investigation with the view of
, further awards To other officers and
| men on these and any ships who rem
| dered meritorIus service by reason Of
attack by enemy. ships.
I'VE cannot give too much honor to
the commanding officers of surface
ships which were able 10 sink or destroy
a submarine. The truth must also be
| recognized. however. that the courage,
| skill. determination, resourcefulness,
foresight and Judgment Of officers
whose ships wcro torpedocd and sud
denly sunk arc put tn quite as severe a
| test as in the cases Of commanding off
GERS of surface ships which see and
sink the enemy.
| In conclusion Secretary Daniels
| wrote:
I'VE shall have forgotteu the distin-
! guahod and honorable service OF able
| and devoted officers ashore who will
| worthily wear the DISTINGUISHED service
medal. the splendid courage of the men
| who met the shock Of the submarine
stilcttocs unafraid and demonstrated
| initiative. valOr and wisdom under such
| circumstances as landSmen never know
| these brave men and their deeds will
| remain as living glory and an honor
| able incentive TO future naval heroes"
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