Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-02-03
Secretary Defends His Ac-
tion in Ignoring Rec
concentrations.
SAYS MEN AT SEA
EARNED MEDALS
Controversy With Admiral sims and
knlshk Board Of Award Aired Be-
fore Senate Committee - Daniels
Urges That Medals Given to Mon
on Shore Duty Disseminated
Against Officers and Men at Sea.

Washington, Feb. 9@Taking UP
tho conteutions OF Rear Admiral
Sims in the matter Of naval awards
point by point Secretary Daniels.
before the senate committee took
direct issue with the admiral. The
secretary went Into detail in explain
ing changes he made in comforting
decorations and the Recommended
tions OF the commanding naval Of
ficers and the knight moard.
Secretary Daniels outlined the two
chief differences between his views
and those OF Admiral Sims in award
ing medals. These were at variaus
as to the importance OF service ut
sea compared with service on shore
and differences as to the question ds
to whether distinguis service
medal should be awarded under any
circumstances to q commander or a
ship sunk by a submarine or mines.
Asserting that Admiral Sims while
on shore duty both in the Spanish
American and world war demon
strated ability OF high ORDER"
Secretary Daniels said'
The position Of Rear Admiral
Sims in placing shore duty above sea
duty in the danger zone. no doubt.
was Influenced by his own record
Figures were presented by Mr.
Daniels showing that during the last
twenty-five years Admiral Sims has
served about sixteen years on shore
duty and nine years at sea.
Arowse for Men at Sea.
A. justifyinS his contention that
individual duties on shore are
necessarily Of second importance to
Duties ahoat Mr.. Daniels asserted.
"On shore 4 man decides important
questions In the quiet Of his Office.
with time to weigh the pros and
cons, and II he makes q mistake his
error u not Immediately followed by
diaastroue results. At sea, particu-
hriy In submarine warfare, the COM
mander, like all his men. is in inn
minent peril. He must make mo-
mentous decisions often when his
ship has been attacked and when
GOODNESS and I1oise are necessary TO
save the lives Of hundreds Of men.
A mistake In this emergency Is fataf
to an officer In command at sea-
With this a. an impalling reason,
the secretary said he disapproved OF
the disparity between honors TO men
ashore and anoat as recommended
by the knight board. and according
ly reduced or eliminated q number OF
awards for shore service.
Justifiss. His. Awards.
Il support on his contention that a
commander Of ship sunk or
damaged by submarine attack was
entitled to q medal II ne showed
proper qualification even tho the
ship was unable to combat tho sub
marine. Secretary Daniels cited
numerous examples In American
naval history and also pointed to In
stances OF such awards by the
French government during the world
war.
American naval history, he said,
was filed with precedents upholding
his action In awarding the distin-
guished service medal to command
ers Of ships sunk by submarines or
mines.
I'm the stilleto. attack Of sub
marine warfare said Mr.. Daniels,
ut n not the fact that a man strikes
or u struck that tests the metal and
true naval leadership. The question
II, Does ne play the part OF a man
with chivalry and think only OF oth-
ers and of his country, and has ne
BY preparation and foresight done all
that u possible to meet every emer-
zency. And when ho faces q court. OF
his brother officers do they md that
he has measured up to naval tradi-
tions, Admirals Mayo and GleaveS
and Vice Admiral Grant recon-
mendeA commanding officers under
them tor distinguished service med
ais when these officers displayed high
qualities when their ships were sunk
or damaged. The greatest thing a
man ever does IN tho world As to turn
q stumbling block into q stepping,
stone. r medals arc not given for
this sort OF noble courage and cool
ness and discretion In supreme dan
ger what on earth are they designed
forf'
Disputes elms' Contention.
Referring to Admiral Sims state.
ment that he had not recommended
any enlisted men for medals because
we had nothing to give them." the
secretary called the committees at
tention TO the act creating the
awArda, which, he said, made no dis
tinction between an admiral, captain
or an enlisted man. FA -.
ut u the service he renders in
time sof pertl and not his rank that
counts.ss he added. '-There arc occa-
sions when 2 ship is threatened with
destruction and tor the moment its
safety or destruction depends on an
enlisted man, land he is chen IN a
position Of great responsibility and
II he performs his duties then with
courage and devotion he is fully on
titled 70 recognition of his conduct
~ distinguished service medals"
Referring TO the bestowal OF the
medal on Admiral Benson, Mr.. DAN,
jslg des1ared he would give the 'Akrne
nsdai 'tAat Goss e that great dis