Show I I DANIlS T TO I PD T o N N Navy vy Chief Promises to 1 Tell mu ll Why He Changed O Original Awards and Aroused Sims Sims' Anger TV ASHINGTON Dec 23 23 WASHINGTON W Secretary Daniels Daniels' tod today F y or ordered cred a comprehensive report leport on award of naval decorations prepared for the information of or Chairman Page of of the senate naval committee It will Include all recommendations by In individuals inc or by boards and the action by the board and by the the secretary himself himself upon the recommendations The order was Issued in response toa to toa a request from Senator Page which followed criticism of the manner in which some of the awards were dis dis- Part of this criticism was made by Rear Pear Admiral Sims who commanded American naval al forces overseas during the war t QUIET ABOUT SIMS Mr 11 Daniels declined to comment on on the letter on the subject received by hi lii Admiral Sims further than to say that published excerpts from the tine letter appeared to be substantially correct although he had not had time timeto to read the tine communication carefully In the letter Admiral Sims declined the decoration decoration-a a distinguished service service service ser ser- vice medal tendered medal tendered to him personally personally person person- ally any on the ground that injustice had been done some somo officers in tl o distribution distribution dis- dis of the awards When the list of recommendations and awards is made public said Mr Daniels in referring to the report to tobe tobe tobe be sent to Senator Page I 1 have no doubt the tine American people will ap approve approve ap- ap prove the principle followed and the application of that principle PRESENT LIST NOT FINAL Mr l Daniels added that the list of ot awards already made public was in inI inno inno I no way final that additions undoubtedly undoubtedly undoubtedly un un- un- un would be made as more recent recommendations were taken up for consideration and it was not impossible that some names name's might be removed from the published list Last week I 1 received a letter from the Hon C. C S. S Page chairman of the naval committee of the senate Mr 11 Daniels said requesting a copy of the tine Knight board recommendations recommendations recommendations of awards I 1 called up Senator Pages Page's office and informed the secretary of his hid committee that I data was being collected collected col col- and andas as soon as It was ready I r would be pleased to furnish it to him DETAILS OF STATEMENT Directions have been given to prepare prepare prepare pre pre- pare a statement concerning the following following fol fol- fol lowing information 1 All recommendations for awards I b by admirals captain and other commanding commanding com com- manding officers 2 The 2 The action of the board upon ut I all such suh recommendations and Its complete report I 3 3 The The action taken by the de department de- de ap As soon soon as as s this data datt Is re ready dy it must be collected literally from reams of recommendations it will be sent to Chairman Page and given to the public I SOME TURNED DOWN The board of awards did not approve approve ap ap- approve ap- ap prove all of the recommendations of the commanding officers The secretary secretary secretary secre secre- tary did not approve all 11 the recommendations recommendations recommendations of the board He added names of officers and enlisted men who had performed conspicuous ser ser- vice The only way that fair fall minded men can judge th the wisdom of the awards so far a announced will be bc to compare the tine lists After every war there are arc of course differences of opinion s hs to the awards of distinctions I re remember remember re- re member the criticisms that were t voiced in the Spanish-American Spanish war war After the line landing at Vera Yera Cruz Crux many medals were awarded awarded so so many In InTact fact Tact that the statement was often made that no distinction was made between distinguished and ordinary service gervice At that time I approved without change th the recommendations submitted To 10 me DEFINES HIS POLICY It became my duty at the close of ot this war imposed by act of congress to approve the awarding of ot medals medals' and distinctions and I r resolved that art artir 1 should h. h t p verned by principles an dall in certain classes be recognized alike I 1 was also resolved that most distinguished honors should be awarded those who were in most peril and who suffered most and rendered the most distinguished distinguished distinguished distin distin- service The awards so far farI I announced followed this sound policy The Tho final and complete list has not been approved for some recommendations I were long delayed ASK REPORT FOR HOUSE HOUS Representative Lufkin Republican I Massachusetts a member of the house naval committee announced today that when congress reconvened he would introduce a resolution calling on the navy department for tor a report on changes made by Secretary Daniels Daniels Dan Dan- in the recommendations for awarding naval decorations The resolution will ask for the changes made by the secretary and the reasons for this arbitrary action said Representative Lufkin I had hoped that this whole agitation was the result of disappointment of ot one or two officers who had failed tailed of ot I recognition coupled with the desire i of certain newspapers to stir up i trouble I 1 Iam am c convinced however that the matter Is is more fan When an officer of the prominence and distinction of Admiral Sims feels feels' It is ig necessary to decline to receive the distinguished service medal himself himself him him- himI I self seU and to repudiate the entire proceedings proceedings pro pro- pro pro-I on the tine part of the secretary incident to the award J I believe belie the time has come when the congress s I and tI the p opi FI are arc IC en entitled Ii to now knew |