Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-03
Daniels Takes Issue
With Admiral Sims
csptinued from Page One

csrtinued from Page One
Distiuguished Service Medal for Com
mhpder y. c. Babcock. his chief OF
star, and his everything had not
been followed, Secretary Daniels said
"If I had thought Commander Bah
cock the 'verything' Of the navy across
fhe sea I certainly would have sent him
TO represent the navy instead of Ad-
rnirsl Sims. I do not believe in having
f,vo supermen to do n ouelman job
Defends Own Awards
In support of his contention that a
commander of ship sunk or damaged
by submarine attack was entitled to
medal IL he showed proper qualitica
tions. even though the ship was un-
able to combat the submarine, Secre-
tary Daniels cited numerous examples
in American naval history and also
pointed TO instances of such awards
BY the French government during the
world war.
@ American naval history. he told the
committec. was filed with precedent
npholding his action in awarding the
.DistiuKuished Service Medal TO com
panders of ships sunk by submarine or
mines,
..In the stilettc attack of submarine
warfare, said Mr.. Daniels 1t Is not
the fact that a man strikes or is struck
that tests true mettlc and true naval
leadership. The question is: Does he
play the part Of the man. with chivalry
and thought only of others and of his
country?' Aud has he by preparation
aud foresight done all that is possible
to meet any and every emergency And
when he faces a court of his brother OF
hcers. do they find that he has meaSur-
: II. 1 l. 81, ,.l 10, ha htrl
naval traditions
Recommended by .Admirals
"Admirals Mayo and Gleavcs and
Vice Admiral Grant recommended COM
manding officers under them for Dis
,tinguished Service Medals. who dis
played these high qualities. when their
ships, struck by mines or torpedoes,
were sunk or damaged. The board OF
awards approved their recommends
tions.
"The greatest thing that a man ever
does in this world is to turn a stumbling
block into stepping stone. If medals
are not given for this sort of noble
courage aud GOODNESS and direction iu
supreme danger, what on earth are they
designed for?'
Referring to Admiral Sims's state
ment that he had not recommended any
enlisted men for medals because 1--WE
lad nothing TO give them. the secre-
fary called the committees attention
20 the act creating the awards which
ne said made no distinction between ar
admiral. captain and enlisted man.
1T is the service he renders, tho
Service in peril and not his rank tha
counts he added. There are occas
ions when a ship is threatened with de.
Struction and when for the moment it
Safety and protection depends on an en-
listed man and then he is in "a position
Of great responsibility. and if he per,
forms his duties at that moment will
courage and devotion he is fully entitled
10 the recognition of his conduct by tn,
Distinguished Service Medal"
Would Honor Humblest Man
S Referring to the beStowal of tina
medal on Admiral Benson because of hi
services as chief of naval operations
Mr.. Daniels declared he would give tn
Eame medal that goes to that grea
and distinguished officer to the humbeS
sailor lad who, when placed in ii posi-
fion of great responsibility at a tim
which tests the stuff of which a man
made, met the demands of those dutie
md placed his life in jeopardy in orde
Nat his ship and the lives of other
might be preserved.
w llu JudJ III Illluu Bt OEuSEtN llTIut
ftudy of navy records when he foun
that only 119 enlisted men of the 900,
900 in the navy during the war ha
been recommended for any high honor
he explained. As the result of thi
study, as yet incomplete. he said thir
teen additional enlisted men wer
awarded the Distinguished ServiC
Medal and sixty eight more were pr
on the list for navy crosses,
K Emphatic denial was made By til
secretary of Admiral Sims'S statemer
that the policy followed in awardin
medals had shot to pieces the navy
morale.
= "It is an insult TO the splendid me
of the navy to say that the morale
fhe service could be seriously impairt
by any question of awards to individJ
sls." the secretary said on that poin
1They are made of Sterner stuff this
TO be ratified by a matter so unimpo'
tant in comparison with their devotiC
10 their duties Their loyalty is in
Sense dependent upon medals.
Denies Showing Favoritism
= Explaining Admiral Sims's mcntic
81 message from the secretary askiI
What Recommendation had been ma
Fcr "Bagley (Mr. Daniels's brother il
Mw), and other officers of the JAG
Tones and other destroyers that we
Nttacked," Mr.. Daniels said the no
Was written late one afternoon after
Aficers in charge of reports had lf
she department and was written as I
Easiest way Of getting the informatio
Z There was not at that time and new
Mas been, Mr.. Daniels declared. a
Question of favoritism of relationsh
Ii the matter OF his relations with Cor
anander Bagley.
y Mr.. Dauiels said he had no CRITICS
~ the work Of the board of aware
headed by Rear Admiral Austin
Knight and that its recommendatiO
- were faithfully made on the basis
4he meager information in its posse
Sion.
EOrtelyOu Defends
n D.IJso