The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-05-10
SLAPPED
IN TESTIMONY
OF J. DANIELS
Admiral Made His Charges
Because Not Given His Own
Way Against Department,
Secretary of Navy Claims.
ALLEGED PR0-BRITISH
(By Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, May 10-Secretary
Daniels, before the senate investigat-
ing committee today, made his long
awaited reply to the criticisms of
Rear Admiral Sims on the navy's part
in the war.
The naval secretary let go a broad
SIZE which included charges that Sims
lacked vision, belittled the work of
the American navy in contrast to the
British, coveted British decorations,
and aspired to become an honorary
member of the British admiralty.
He declared that officers support
ing the Sims charges were largely
people with a grievance" The tes-
t1mony of other officers, in posses
sion of first hand knowledge, Secre-
tary Daniels testified. should be ac-
cepted by all open-minded men as an
sbsolute refutation of practically all
of Admiral Sims charges.
Was a Disappointment
Sims, Secretary Daniels told the
committee, did not measure up to ex-
pectations in. various ways, Of which
he mentioned six, as follows: "He
lasked vision to see that a great and
new project to bar the submarines
from their hunting grounds should be
promptly adopted and carried out. no
matter what the cost or how radical
the departure from what uItra-prudent
men regarded as impracticabIe.
He seemed to accept the views of
The British admiralty as superior to
anything that would come from Amer
lea and urged those views even when
the navy department proposed plans
that proved more effective. In pub
Tic speeches and other ways he gave
a maximum of credit to British ef-
forts and minimized what his country
was doing.
HE coveted British decorations and
seemed to place a higher value on
ihonors given abroad than on honors
that could be conferred by the Ameri-
can government.
Wanted To Be Admiralty Member
He aspired to become a member of
the British admiralty and wrote COM
plainingly when the American govern
'ment declined to permit him to accept
such tender by the king of England.
He placed protection of merchant
shipping as the main operation of our
forces abroad, failing to appreciate
that the protection of transports car
rying troops to France was the para
mount naval duty until felt impelled
to cable him peremptorily that such
was our main mission"
Secretary Daniels testified that had
he known that In October, 1918. Sims
had made statements rejecting upon
the contributions of the U. s army and
navy to winning the war, to members
CT congress visiting abroad, he would
never have recommended his promo
ton.
He had not then attacked the Irish
people," Secretary Daniels testified II
thought then he had only defended the
American sailors, proper thing to do,
when attacked unjustly by what he
termed lawless element in Cork. II
l had known that he proposed, under
the permission granted him. to tell the
story OF what the navy had done over
seas. to denounce the Irish people as
he did in his articles in The Worlds
Work the permission would not have
been granted
Secretary Daniels said he had never
publicly or privately criticized Ad-
miral Sims for lack of early vision in
connection with the North sea mine
barage project, "or for his other mis-
take or wrong views" Admiral MAYO
succeeded in convincing the British
admiralty of the soundnes of the bar
rage scheme where Admiral Sims had
failed, he said.
Supposed He Was Shut Up.
Although the department had dis
approved of some or his recommends
tions and denied some of his desires"
said Secretary Daniels. Il mistakenly
supposed until the latter part of Jar-
uary, 1917, that he had accepted and
acquiesced. with more or less grace,
in the departments dispoition of ships
and ITS other official actions, a a loyal
officer accepts the decisions OF his
superiors, even though he might per-
sonally hold other views"
The investigation committee. Secre-
tary Daniels said, had been wearied
and the public nauseated with IAN
abortive attempt to ferret out the mole
hills of mistakes and exaggerate them
into mountains, to make a noble and
notable accomplishment appear as tho
dim and fading background Of -
frontispiece of comparatively unin-
rortant errors of judgment
The navy's record in the war
stands untouched today and for all
time despite criticisms from within or
without" said he.