Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-02-04
EC.DANIELS
Continued from Page Ons)

CiEerenceS on the question whether
a distir guished service medal should
be awarded under any circumstances
to a commander OF 4 ship sunk or
seriously damaged by enemy sub
marines or mines.
Asserting tia: Admiral Sims while
~ shore duty bol.. in the Spanish
American, and world war demon
straled ability Of high Order" Sec
rotary Daniels said
The position OF Rear Admiral,
Sims in placing shore duty above sea
duty in the danger zone is, 10
doubt, influenced by his own rec
ord"
Figures were presented By Mr.
Daniels showing that during the last
IS years Admiral Sims had served
about Is years on shore duty and
nine years at sea.
50 rarely did he take q SEA trip"
said the secretary, referring to the
admirals work as commander Of The
United States naval forces in Euro
pean waters. that in his book he
tells story Of one Of the few times
he was atioat. going with the Brit
ism admiral who had been placed by
Rear Admiral Sims IN command OF
the American destroyers baseu IN
Queenstown"
AS just!fying his contention tina,
individual duties ashore are neces.
sariiy IF secondary importance u
duties afoat- Mr.. Daniels asserted:
On :hore z man decides import
an, questions in the quiet of Office
surroundings with time 10 weigh the
prs and cons and if he makes a
M axe il.s error of decision is not
irln"dia; els followed o. disastrous
results. Al sea. particularly in sub
marine warfare. the commander
Ike all his men, is in imminent
peril Of death. He must make mo
mentouS decisions in the fash OF I,
single moment, often when his ship
has been attacked and when GOODNESS
and poise are necessary TO save the
lives of scores and hundreds of men.
\ mistake in this emergency is fata.
to an officer in command at sea"
With this as an impeliing reason.
the secretary said ne disapproved Of
the disparity between honors to men
ashore af,oat as recommended by the
knight board and accordingly re-
duced or eliminated a number Of
awards for shore service.
In support Of his contention that q
commander Of a ship sunk or dam
aged by submarine attack was en-
titled to a medal il he showed pro-
per qualifications. even though the
ship was unable to combat the sub
marine. Secretary Daniels cited
numerous examples in American na-
val history and also pointed to in
stances of such awards by the
French government during the world
war.
In the stilletto attack of subma-
rine warfare" said Mr.. Daniels. lit
is not the fact that man strikes
or is struck that tests true mettie
and true naval leadership. The ques-
ton is: Does he play the part OF the
man with chivalry and thought only
OF others and of his country? And
has he by preparation and foresight
done all that is possible to meet any
and every emergency: And when he
faces a court OF his brother officers.
do they find that he has measured
up in the terrible ordeal 10 the high
naval traditions? Admirals Mayo and
Gleaves and Vice Admiral Grant rec
commended officers under them for
distinguished service medals who dis
played these high qualities when
their ships, struck by mines or tor
pcdoes, were sunk or damaged. The
I'd nf
concentrations. The greatest thing
that man ever does in this world Is
to turn stumbling block into a STEP
ping stone. If medals are not given
for this sort of noble courage and
GOODNESS and direction in supreme
danger. what on earth are they de-
signed for"
Referring to Admiral Sims state
ment that he had not recommended
any enlisted men for medals because
we had nothing to give ihen," the
secretary called the committees at.
te,tion to the act creating the awards
which he said made no distinction be-
tween an admiral, captain and en-
listed man.
1T is the service he renders, the
service in peril. and not his rank that
counts" he added.
Referring to the bestowal Of a med
al on Admiral Benson because Of hts
services as chief Of naval operations.
Mr.. Daniels declared he would give
the same medal that goes to that
great and distinguished officer to the
humblest sailor lad. who. when plac-
ed in a position OF great responsible
ity in time that tested the stun Of
which man is made, met the de-
mands of those duties and placed his
life in jeopardy in order that his ship
and the lives Of others might be
preserved"
With that in mind, he ordered fur
Their study of navy records when he
found that only lis enlisted men Of
tbs. 40 600 in the navy during the