Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1920-01-23
BIC INVESTIGATION
Of NAVY IN SIGHT
Admiral Benson, Sims Comman-
der, to Face Inquiry.
TO EXPLAIN VERBAL ORDERS
Navy Men at Washington See Politics
in Action of Sims subcommittee
to Ask Authority to Extend
the investigation.

Washington Jan. 19-The return of
Admiral William S. Benson, who dur
ing the war was chief Of the naval
bureau of operations and the superior
Of Rear Admiral William S. Sims, is
expected to bring the most important
development into the scandal that has
arisen out of Admiral Sims indictment
of the conduct of the navy during the
war
1t is known that Admiral Benson,
together with Secretary of the Navy
Daniels, gave Admiral Sims his part
ing instructions when he left for Eu-
rope shortly before the war was de-
clared against Germany.
When he appeared before the senate
subcommittee investigating naval
awards Admiral Sims asserted that
among the instructions was this verbal
order:
Don't let the British pull the wool
over your eyes. We don't want to
pull their chestnuts out of the fire.
Remember we would as soon fight
the British as the Germans"
Want Benson Called.
Navy officials said that if the COM
plete senate naval affairs committee
undertakes an Investigation of Admir-
al Sims charges. it will have to sum
mon not only Secretary of Navy Dam
iels but Admiral Benson as well.
Navy officials say that Admiral
Sims assertion regarding the instruc-
tiors to be wary of the British re-
solves itself into a question Of fact.
IT was also asserted that it was un-
fair Of Admiral Sims to make a state
ment of that nature without repeating
the entire conversation so that it's
meaning could be fully appreciated.
Senator Page (Rep) Of Vermont
has called a special meeting of the
naval affairs committee to decide
whether to extend the scope of the
senate inquiry originally was
simply to determine whether medals
had been justly awarded-into an in
yestigation of the conduct of the navy
department throughout the war.
If Mr.. Daniels and Admiral Benson
appear before the full Senate commit
tee such action will obviate the neces-
sity Of statement from the navy de-
partment.
Some Of the members of the advi-
sorry board discussed what they termed
reasons for Admiral Sims attack,
first on Secretary of the Navy Daniels
in the awards controversy and then
on the navy generally.
Politics Charged.
In short. the reasons given are
these
l. It is supposed to be political
2. Giving due credit to Admiral
Sims for his ability as naval officer,
they nevertheless say the personal
equation now dominates the matter.
3. In substantiation of the personal
feature they point out that Admiral
Benson, when he went to Paris to CON
Guide the terms of the armistice, found
Admiral Sims there and ordered him
"back to his job" at London.
4. Admiral Sims was reported to
have desired to become a member of
the British admiralty, but dropped the
matter after he learned Of the opposi-
ton of Admiral Benson to such
step.
s. That it was well-known by the
members of the advisory council that
Admiral Sims possessed strong feel
ings for friendship for the British
as demonstrated by his now famous
"blood is thicker than water" speech
in Londonand that his tendency
would be for a closer cooperation
than was desired by the advisory
council
One official recalled that Admiral
Sims was born in Canada. and while
this was not set forth as anything to
his discredit. it was argued that it
might have affected his naval policy.