Evening star., 1920-01-05
Mr.. DANIELS TELLS
HOW AWARDS WERE ).
MADE To NAVY MEN
Secretary Praises Officers
Who Braved .Perils of
Mine and U-BoatS.

Whether or not the commanding Of
fcer of a United States vessel had his
ship torpedoed under him, the fact re-
mains that the naval officer met the
shock of the German stilettos una
fraid," and his name will remain
living glory after we shall have for
gotten the distinguished and honor
able service of able and devoted ma
val officers ashore who will worth
lily wear the distinguished service
medal
This, in effect. is the keynote of a
letter sent by Secretary Daniels of
the Navy Department to Chairman
Page of the Senate naval committee
as part of the information in connec-
tion with the awarding of medals to
naval officers asked for by Senator
Page.
The controversy over naval awards
was brought to light recently when
Admiral Sims. who commanded the
American fleet in European waters,
refused the distinguished service
medal because thirteen of his staff
officers, for whom he had recommend
ed the highest naval award, were
given the Navy cross. an inferior
award, by the Knight board. with
Secretary Daniels sanction.
Compared to Early Heroes.
In his letter to Senator Page, Sec
retary Daniels compares the COM
II
were sunk by the Germans with Law
renee. Perry. Porter and other naval
heroes in the early history of the ma
tion.
Mr. Daniels declares that while the
highest distinction should be confer
come to actual grips with the enemy,
the distinguished service medal
should also be awarded to officers on
shore duty. only to those who, in
the language of Congress. had dis
tinguiShed themselves by exception
ally meritorious service to the gov
ernment in duty of great RESPONSE
bility.'"
Champions Men Losing Ships.
Mr.. Daniels takes up the cudgel in
behalf of commanders who lost their
ships, among whom was the Secre
tary's brother-in-law, Commander D.
w. Baglev of the destroyer Jacob
Jones. Bagley was recommended for
the distinguished service medal, an
act which received general criticism.
Bagley and his fellow-officers. who
lost their vessels, are held up as
heroes by Secretary Daniels. OF this
he writes:
"s I stated that the service
worthy of the highest distinction is
that rendered afloat in the presence
of the enemy and that the distin-
guished service medal should be
struck by the mines or the torpedoes
of the enemy, if his conduct was meri-
torious in the hour that tests courage
and leadership.
II do not think the American peo-
pie can be persuaded to accept the
idea that the distinguished service
medal should not be given to the cap
tain of a ship who bears himself
courageously in, the supreme hour for
which all other hours in his naval
career were but preparatory. IL his
ship is lost by submarine or mine at
tack.
Lawrence and Porter Cited.
IF this theory had been accepted in
former years, Lawrence and Porter
and other naval heroes would have
been denied some of the honors which
their countrymen gladly gave them.
Each of them knew what it was to
lose his ship without loss of prestige
and with the satisfaction of receiving
expressions of high appreciation OF
their countrymen.
"It Is Of course the victory in bat
tie which gives the highest glory,
but medals of distinction are awarded
for exceptionally meritorious service
and Lawrence was no less deserving
of nations gratitude when his ship
was lost to his country than was
Perry, who, leaving his sinking ship
won victory after transferring his
flag from the Lawrence to the Niaga-
ra.- Indeed, Perry and all his gallant
and victorious crew were inspired to
win by the immortal words of Law
renee. for Perry had adopted Law.
rence's dying words as the shi bhOleth
on his flag: Don't give up the ship"
Vessels Tofpedoed or Mined.
Mr.. Daniels letter contains a com.