Omaha daily bee., 1920-01-21
MAYO At ISSUE
WITH sim S IN
NAVAL BL0WUP
Disagrees on Two Leading
Controverted Points in
Disputes Over Awards
For War Service.

Washington, Jan. 20.-Direct issue
with Rear Admiral William S. Sims
on the two leading controverted
points in the naval decorations dis
pute was taken today by Rear Ad-
miral Henry T. Mayo, wartime COM
mander OF the United States feet, in
testimony before the senate subcom-
mittee investigating the medal award
controversy. r.
Reading his letter to Secretary
Daniels, giving his views on the dec
oration awards, which views he said
were not presented as protest Ad-
miral Mayo first disagreed with Ad-
miral Sims as TO, the relative i'm
portance of sea and shore duty. Ad-
miral Mayo explained to the COM
mittee that he wrote to Secretary
Daniels because he did not believe
the Knight board of awards or Mr..
Daniels had given sufficient consid-
Grafton to the importance Of the du-
ties performed by officers who
served at sea with the Atlantic feet.
Admiral Sims, in his testimony and
also in his letter to Secretary Dan
iels,. declining the Distinguished
Service Medal, contended that too
much importance was attached to
the services of officers who served
at sea as compared with those who
administered important posts on
shore.
Award Of Medals.
The second point on which Ad-
miral Mayo differed with Admiral
Sims was the question of the award
of medals to the commanding Of
hcers of ships sunk or seriously
damaged by torpedo attack or mines.
While stating that broad general
policy along that line would not be
a good thing for the service, Ad-
miral Mayo declared that in cases
where the commanding officers con-
duct was Of an especially meritorious
character proper reward should be
given. Admiral Mayo approved with
out qualification the action of the
Knight board and Secretary Daniels
in awarding Distinguished Service
Medals to Captain Christy of the
cruiser San Diego, sunk by a mine,
and Commander P. w. Foote, of the
transport President Lincoln, sunk
by torpedo. Admiral Sims severe
ly criticised the action of Secretary
Daniels in insisting on the awards
to the commanding officers of ships
sunk by the enemy.
Considerable Discussion.
The naval award controversy late
in the day reached the floor of the
senate through presentation of res
olution by Chairman Hale of the
subcommittee to authorize employ
ment of counsel and clerical force
to aid in the investigation. Al
though final action was prevented
by absence of quorum, there was
considerable discussion, Senators
Thomas, Colorado; King, Utah, and
Phelan, California, democrats ques-
tioning the necessity of counsel.
Chairman Hale in reply said the res
olutlon had been approved unani-
mously by The subcommittee and
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts,, re-
publican leader, supporting the ress
olution. said the charges made by
Admiral Sims had made the investi-
cation virtually an inquiry into the
conduct of the war by the navy.
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Roosevelt announced appointment
of Rear Admiral Herbert o. Dunn,
commandant of the first naval dis
trict: Capt. ]. F. Hines, Capt. D. E.
Theleen and Ensign Henry E. Hyne-
man, judge advocate as board to
investigate charges of immortality in
the navy.
Sims Given Ovation.
New York. Jan. 20.-Rear Admiral
William S. Sims was given an ova-
ton by several hundred of his broth