The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-03-10
SIMS BACKS
CHARGES WITH
DOCUMEN n rs
Says Navy's Unprepared-
ness Cost Half Million
Lives

WASHINGTON. March iO-Faii-
uro Of the navy department To fully
cooperate In the war during the first
six months after Americas cntry cost
half a million lives. fifteen billions Of
doliart 100000 tons of shipping
and prevented victory over Ger
many by July, 1915. Rear Admiral
Slns told the senate investigating
committee today In presenting docu-
mcntary evidence In support OF his
charges Of delay against the depart
mcui.
The officer read 20 committee rec
concentrations he had made to the
department Immediately upon his ar
ii,u in London in 1919. A cable
gram scnt late 100 April 1917. said
tho oritlchl area where the war would
bo won or lost was lu the eastern
Atlantic at. the focus OF nll lines Of
ocean communication 10 England and
Fr'ucc.
Admiral Sims told tho committee
that although he repeatedly urged
that cVcry destroyer and small craft
that could be- sent to sea be despatch
ed Immediately 20 this area his rec
ummcudatiun was not compiled with
untll about siN months later.
sought Md of Page.
Admiral Sims said THAI wheL he
found that his own efforts Go Impress
upon the navy department the serious
ness of the situation were uuayailing
he invoked the aid OF the late Am.
hassIdor Page at London. VINO on
Apru q. 1871. sent confidential
cahlcrram 20 Secretary Lansing and
President Wilson declaring thul
"tnorr is reason for the greatest
alarm about the issue of the war
caused ny the Increasing success of
D,rWuu suuWarIncs.'
Tho ambassador urged the imWod-
iIau aaf4ENIHDut o. tNDrH available
{ uifrd S'ues destroyer ara subma-
Ire chaser to Hruss waters.
Even tnis request was uuhrrlrd,
for SOM. mouths Admiral Sims said.
The witness rDld H message GOO tho
department iu fuII saying th, British
government appreciated what the
United States Was doing to koor uowu
submarines,
incidentally" be added. that ls e
rtso pf international pultlrurss TIvs
wrr" thanking us Tor sending s.N de.
s.Ioyrrs
Admiral Sims Insisted that nc hnd
ho'u handicapped hN failure ul the
department iu keep him Informed ut
i.s plans Ito read excerpts frum hIs
ur-sufrs urging adoption uf tho COM
Nu} system and said;
% VIII show that great Ius-os were
sustained uup iu the resistance of the
BAL La |U.aH H#sH I'D.
s. stem"
-, then read department mosslro
sent him Iu May, ana signed hy SEQ
rriHn Daniels
puhc,. Ngairz Con,o,-
"lu regard 60 CONVOY. % read. %
cuus.1'r American Nrss"'s having
armed guards are safer wa,u sailing
'WLru Q rot that message WIS
about Goo iump overheard. continued
Admiral sims % realized that the
drpI mrnt did not understand uT ap-
Irrr.ui' the situation"
Admiul sinus s1id that uu Npui
~ o.. It 30 -E and % hr sont
vthlcrr1Ws Go The department urrinr
tine necessity uf sending naval WU
promptly but that They had ltftlo vt-
fruf. ON Npu' 1s. hr -tId. hr r,-
u"iNuI u message from the depart
mont saving that yours OF Npril %
W ID Doe given earnest ana serious HI-
icuuuu" and un April 90 ho received
uuuIJ'r message saying that 'sE de-
rogers are ready to sail lmmvdtuiv-
lN upon receiving information as Co
desired port and best route 90 follow
a. They approach the Irish rnusi
pu the same date. Admiral Sims
said. boz, received another dispatch
Eu,d Ny Secretary Daniels irforW-
iur MIN thar the department cuutoW.
plated HtndIur four losIruNpTs ANA
(COutinurd un page tWol