Evening star., 1920-05-06
BENSON DOES NOT
DENY SIMS STORY
OF 'WOOL-PULL|NG'
Admiral, However, Tells
Committee His Words Were
Misinterpreted.

Admiral William s. Benson, war
time chief Of naval operations, told
the Senate naval investigating COM
mittee today that both before and
during the war he had warned
Admiral Sims not to let his friendship
for the British unduly influence his
official acts.
Admiral Benson said he could not
deny that he had told Admiral Sims
in March. 1917. 'tnot to let the British
pull the wool over your eyes; we
owuh as soon tight them as the Ger
MANS" as he could not recall all OF
the details e< the interview.
The witness did say. however, that
q wrong Interpretation had been
placed on the statement attributed to
him by Admiral Sims and he added
that as q result he had been done a
grave injustice. He denied that he
was in any way unfriendly to the
British.
Admits Cautionink Sims.
Asked by Chairman Hale what in
structfons he gave Admiral Sims be-
fore the officer first sailed for Lon
don, Admiral Benson said he eau
toned him to be very careful of his
conduct, in view of the delicate sit
uation. and to remember that the
United States still was neutral.
Il gave him very earnest instruc-
tions along that line" said the wit
11s HsEy the fora'sls s!fSst'Ga ssa Ss:s
on him the seriousness Of the eltua-
ton. but what words I used cannot
recall
Admiral Benson added that IL Sims
q L.
British pull the wool over his eyes
it would have to go at that"
Cannot Deny 1t.
You do not le0y it," asked the
chairman.
II cannot deny it under OATH" re-
piled Admiral Benson. II do deny
the Interpretation that has been
placed or attempted to be placed on
it. don't think anything could have
been more confidential than my con-
versation with Admiral Sims"
How could you say that we would
as soon fight the British as the Ger
mans?" asked the chairman.
Merely as a figure Of speech to
impress on him the seriousness of his
task" was the reply.
Admiral Benson said that late in
1917 a feeling had grown up in the
United States that Admiral Sims was
being persuaded to give too much at
tention to British shipping and was
using American destroyerS too large
ly in connection with British vessels.
Tho witness testified that when he
was in London he told Admiral Sims
friend to be more careful not only
for his own sake, but because of his
official position.
ITO say that I repeated the Ian
guage Admiral Sims says I used be-
fore he went abroad is absolutely un-
true" declared the witness.
Feeling Not UnfrfendIy.
IT never had any upkindly feeling
or anything along that line that the
knew that 1 was anti-British. 1 don't
think I ever had a conversation with
him along that line. My attitude then
was one Of enthusiastic cooperation.
1 deny now any unfriendly feeling. I
feel that great Injustice has been
can never visit Great Britain again
as I should like to. and I have many
dear friends there and have been
honored with one of the highest decora-
tions that government can give"
Senator Pittman Accuses.
Charges that witnesses before the
were being asked questions
made by Senator Pittman, democrat.
Nevada
II object to the reading Of ques-
tions fired up here every day by
@ said M = Senator Sann a-. t Pittman
three or four months and I am sat
isfied that no members Of the com
mittee or the chairman would be
asking the same questions over and
over again unless they were SUBJ
mitted by outside parties"
Legal Counsel "Refused.''
Chairman Hale replied that he had |
asked for legal counsel and it had |
been refused by the Senate, adding !
hat he had to have help in preparing |
he questions.
"Then it is obvious that the will of
he Senate is being avoided by the /
.eading of questions prepared by an
admiral for outside parties" Senator |
Chairman Hale replied that a rep
Of the Navy Department |
vas sitting near and that two high |
naval officers were being kept from |
heir duties to attend the hearings.