New-York tribune., 1920-01-27
Democrats Halt
Naval Inquiry
Plans of Hale
Filibuster Threatened to
Hold Up Resolution Call.
ing for Legal Counsel and
Also Clerical Assistance
Medals for Enlisted Men
Heroic Action by Seamen.
as Well as the Officers.
Says Secretary in Awards

WASHlNGION, Jan. 26.-Democratjt
opposition blocked action TODAY on
the resolution introduced by Senator
Hale, Republican, Maine. authorizing
employment Of legal counsel and cleri.
cal assistance for the sub committee
investigating naval awards and the
navy's conduct of the war.
Senator Hale, who is chairman of
the subcommittee, late to- -dav hronoh,
The resolution before the Senate For
the third time. with request for
Immediate consideration. a thrcataned
democratic filibuster, led by Senators
flttman of Nevada and Walsh of Mon
'ana caused him to withdraw The re
quest; WIN the announcement that he
would make 1T again tomorrow.
Secretary Daniels, who had been ex
pected to appear before the committee
Thursday, notified Chairman Hale
to-day that it would be moro COW
venlent for him to begin his TESTIMONY
on FRIDAY. and the next session wos
set for that day. '''
Daniels Makes Public Letter
Tonight Secretary Daniels made
public a letter to Chairman Hale Of
the Senate sub committee investipat-
ing nava! war decoration awards, trans
mltting list OF awards made TO en-
tisted men of the service by the Secre-
tary. without reference to the Knight
modal award board. 1t consists Of
twelve awards Of distinguished service
medals, the only instances Mr.. Daniels
explained, of such awards TO enlisted
men. and 144 Navy Cross awards.
Chairman Hale was Informed also
that list of awards TO officers made
by direction Of the Secretary without
the action of the board" was being
q RI ~
when completed, as the Senator had
requested.
Secretary Daniels. in his letter. said
that when the report of tho board Of
awards reached him he noticed that
out of 100000 men in the naval service
during the war only about us enlisted
men had been recommended for the
Navy Cross and none had been recon-
mended for the Distinguished Service
Medal"
II know" Mr.. nanicls's letter con
tinued, chat there were reports of
brave. and heroic action by many en-
listed men as well as by many officers.
| directed a study of these reports be
made, and as a result of this partial
study directed that Distinguished Scrv-
ice Medals and Navy Crosses be
awarded"
Mr. Daniels recalled his order call
to report instances of courage or un
usual service within their knowledge.
and added:
Many men whose deeds arc vet un-
will be rewarded. No final
action would be Just without the in
formation and recommendations re-
quested from ali officers and men in
the service"
Citations accompanying the list or
$ro YoI Il,
medals have been awarded not ONLY to
men on ships in the war zone bu, also
to several members Of The naval hos
pital unit which served with tho Ma
Tine Brigade IN France. One award js
70 Joseph b. McCriskan. WASHINGTON.
nd pharmacists matc on the Mari
eta, who stuck to his post in the sick
'ay during the influenza epidemic in
'91s until he succumbed to the disease
! UNSET; another to Osmond X Ingram.
Pratt City, Ala, gunner's mate aboard
he destroyer Cassin. who was blown to
pieces while trying TO dispose of depth
charges when the vessel Was struck bv
an enemy torpedo
Another posthumous award was To
John v. Mailon, Brooklyn, seaman. who
remained on duty as signal man on
Tatch on the bridge of the trawler
'ulklcy, sunS by mine, and went down
%itn WIZ the ship. Gunnery Sergeant Emil
" man. Marine Corps, observer in the
marine aviation force, France. also was
awarded medal for having made four
Nights over a party OF besicged French
troops at low altitude and under heavy
ire to drop them food packages. ar.
Also FOR attacking twelve enemy scout
planes. shooting down one and himself
anally being brought down in the Bel
gian front line trenches.
Awards OF crosses were made for a
Ifeat variety Of exceptional services.
many Of them to members Of the armad
guard detachments on merchant craft
attacked BY enemy snbmarinea