New-York tribune., 1920-01-20

4s9 Fulton St, opp A. E. S., Bklyn.
6s3 Broad St, next to Bedell, Newark.
he remarked loosely that he already
had sufficient number to give him
"a list to starboard" He followed
this up by apologizing for being COM
PEELED to depart for the Belgian Lega-
lion where ne was to be honored this
afternoon with the bestowai upon him
Of the Order of Leopold.
The witness was questioned in detail
as to the awards made by Secretary
Daniels of the Distinguished Service
Medal to officers like Con- mander David
Worth Bagley. the Sccretary's brother
in-law. Who had lost their ships through
submarine attack. Senator Pittman, Of
Nevada. Democrat. who was conduct
ing the examination, called attention
70 the fact that in some Of these in
stances Admlrals Gleaves, commander
of the cruiser squadron; Mayo, com :
mander III chief of the entire feet. and
Grant had indorsed such awards. SEN
ator Pittman also recalled that the
witness himself had changed his origi-
nal recommendations, and the Senator
insisted that if it was pertinent Tor the
committee to decide whether the Navy
Department had been unjust to certain
fcers in disregarding the final rec
concentrations Of Sims, it was Just as
aertinent for it to determine whether
'dnairal Sims had committed any in
ast,ces through his revision Of his
e. gnal recommendations
Hale-Pittman Clash
When Chairman Hale attempted to
Nc
.cst.oning for the purpose of taking
cess Tor luncheon the Nevada Sem
.,r insisted hotiy on his right to con-
ne. and indicated shat if he were not
united to ne would resign from the
sminittee.
Senator pittman read to the witness
.i4c letter to Chairman Page. Of the
.cuate Naval Affairs Committee, in
~ nich Secretary Daniels gave his rea-
rs for awarding medals to COM
manders who lost their ships
Those sentiments, if maintained,
I'D Admiral Sims. would undermine
ny military organizations.
No Investigating committee, he de-
Jared, would cause him TO change his
nwn recommendations Such COM
:tee. he explained, could not be con-
-rsant with the facts.
NO one he added, who did not
eat blood with these officers during
% war would be competent TO say who
eserved medals"
Chairman Hale hastened to assure
m that the committee had no in
lention of awarding medals.
Admiral Sims regretted that Con
-rcss had not passed law authorizing
Graded decorations for acts Of gal
'antry. Lack of such law. he said
rad prevented many enlisted men from
obtaining medals. AS for the Distin
ruished Service Medal. tine witness
thought it had been chcapencd b!
being distributed so widely.
Once while the admiral WAS goini
full steam ahead with his expression
of opinion. Senator Trammeli Demo
crat, OF Florida, bore down upon hin
With the announcement that his atti
tude was resented. The witness. sal
he Senator, seemed "to hold the com
m.ttee and Congress IN general con
tempt"
The admiral admitted being "littl
,csty," and said he was sorry "if An
member of the committee had take
oTense"
Your statement Of the other day tha
there we're some fools in Congress a
we'll as in the navy" replied the Sens
tor, "hardly harmorizes with that, AZ
miral. since Congress is not on trial"
Admiral Mayo probably Will tcstit
tomorrow.
Commenting during the day on II
charges of lack of cooperation mao
by Admiral Sims, Secretary DAME
said:
y will be glad to tell tho commit,
anything in the world it wants abo
naval operations or naval administr
tion. There is nothing that We ha'
! tnat isn't open to the light Of day. o.
record Is one that We are very prov
J OF and mink the more people
America know what we did in the wor
war INC Droudcr they will be Of tt
record Of their navy. have an abb
ing faith IN the judgment Of the Anne
lcan people when It has had the e,
t.9e facts IN any controversy laid b'
fore IT,"
Although denying authorship of tn
verbal instructions quoted by Admir-;
SIMS, Secretary Daniels stated that h
was prepared 70 assume full resp0ns
bihty for the Instructions that wer
given, and he reiterated what he sal
"a his statement published this morr
ing as 10 having warned Sims not
do or say anything that might con
init this countrF, then still neutra
until the President and Conpre:
of declaring var. lie repeated thu
he had reminded Sims Of the repr
mand he had received from pres.der
TAFT for having stated in Guild Ha
speech in London that The United State
would always be ready TO 20 to En-.
land = aid in time Of war.
lie denied that Slms's appointrncr
az commander Of the overseas navi
forces relieved him of the requirciner
70 take his orders from Washington.
"The business of Rear Admire
Sims" he said. "was 10 obey order
His duties were % mako rocofnmeuda
lions. give IN all the information an
all The facts and then carry out IL
s,ructions from the department. Tn
country and the ~orid know AireAd
tnat the JOB Of the navy was very uci
done. Whether IN the z7th Of June .
the 9Th o. Jnly, Or some Darticula
date, ne zhouid or should not nav
tent ~ many tes'T syeTs 70 cortai,
place, or whether tney zhoulf be mad
ready st that time, or whether II va
important ~ retain some % protcc