Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-05-10

testify. The ten who have testified
besides tho author OF the charge.
have ably and capably denied the
criticisms.
I'm discussing the criticisms.
think 1t surprising and gratifying
that the verdict Of the officers il ten
to one of the correctness Of what we
did.
Had there been q serious differ
ence Of opinion as to what should
have been done, It would OF course
have been my duty to decide be-
tween them. have been fortunate
that no such controversy arose for
that IL q heavy duty for any civilian.
unframed in warfare. to undertake.
What I feel Is needed from me IL
not s. defense. but g. brief and clear
resume OF what has been testified to.
Tells Naval Achievements.
You have heard long statements
OF what the navy did not do. The
country's pride will be heightened by
hearing some Of the things It did do.
The portions Of Admiral Sims letter
that shocked the public moro than
any other was the statement that
he had been toldhot to let the British
pull the wool over your eyes We
would as soon fight them as the
Germans. must confess that shock
ed me-" declared the secretary, "for
in all my years of association with
Officers, Of the navy I had never
iSnown one to make public a con-
'versation with superior officer. The
people could not understand how
any patriotic American who put the
good Of his country inst. could make
public statement which would cast
doubt on a fellow officer and the
whole allied cause.
Secretary Daniels assafled the
manner which Sims letter was made
public declaring that Admiral Sims
had it during the investigation of
naval awards altho It had nothing
to do with tho matter.
prsssntsd Odd Prejeoea
+ Had any ONE m Authority III me,
navy Department entertained a pre-
Judice against Great Hritain. Ad-
miral Sims would not have been
sent to London for Sims pro- British
fdiosyncracies" were well known. In
Justice to the United States navy
which has been charged with failure
to act with more expediency during
the frst few months of the war. Il
VIII be necessary to tell Of the bold
and auda&ious projects which we pre-
sented and which were withdrawn be-
cause OF Admiral Sims opposition
and lack Of faith in the practicable
ty of them. by the Bria1sh admiralty"
This Is not done In any spirit Of
criticism Of the British admiralty
and navy. The navy of that country
Gid a great work and II It were slow
to close the British channel and clear
the north sea of submarines. It did
other tasks in such a way as to be
worthy OF the worlds respect. Our
men felt that they were true shin
mates Of the British during the war
but they We're not moro closely united
In a spirit to win than were the 81
ncen In the department in America
and In London. They made mistakes
and DO did the American navy. Let
this good fellowship be perpetuated
In mutual cooperation by the vic
tories OF peace"
Says Sims Exag 9sratsd Faets,
fou hase heard many great ad-
mirals of the American navy testify
that Admiral Sims attacks were
greatly exaggerated or wholly un-
true II you could have appear be-
fore you some OF the Admiral,s OF
the British navy you would not find
ono who would admit that the
American navy was responsible for
the delay OF the work four months
and the loss Of many lives.
Before Admiral Sims left for Lon
don, Mr.. Daniels said he reminded
the admiral OF his blood Is thicker
than water" speech at the Guild Hall
in London. Mr.. Daniels said he had
told Admiral Sims that he had been
chosen to go to London not because
of that speech but In spite Of it."
Defends Admiral Benson.
Mr.. Daniels warmly defended the
acts Of Admiral Benson. There is a
peculiar malady which affects GER
tain types OF Americans who 20
abroad. That malady causes them to
regan1 others who do NOT lose their
thoroughEoing Americanism a. hav-
ing idiosyncracies.'
Sims Bowed Before British.
Mr.. Sims genuflected so before
British admiralty ideas and accepted
British opinions 30 deeply that he
came to regard Admiral Benson a.
un-American who IL all American,
who is neither pro or anti as re-
CARDS to any other country"