Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-01-24
Admiral Sims Indictmcpt

IN court OF Justice where M en- cbarpoa Nil !
'linc are on trial IL is the duty Of the
court TO charge the jury with an e1amina-
'ion INTO the motives of every accuser. II
,nose motives are questionable, tho testimony
from such a source must be weighed caro-
luily and must necessarily BIO discounted
ms is rule rs old as the existing svsten,
Oh jurisprudence and the wisdom that dir
iated it cannot be doubted
inc same rule might well be anpIied 10
the controversy which has developed between
'ha commahder-ln-chief Of the American
nd'ai forces abroad during the war and the
Navy Department. Rear-Admiral Sims has rone
before the Senate Naval Affairs Cornmittoo
ana mas made certain specific charges
lhcSe charges involve utter ineficicncv nm
me part OF the navy They involve Interior
ence by the department in the naval cam
palsh against Germany, and they SnyoIyc
instructions alleged to have been given nv
INC department TO Admiral Sims Of the mosr
amazing character.
These arc serious accusations rbcv b.ro
come as a shock 10 most ncoplc of the
country. nc average citizen had felt gen
unc pride in the success OF tho American
navy. lie had felt that the part the foet
prayed IN the war was one OF highest eff
cicncy lie knows that the American army
was safely transported to France through
me splendid convoy protection OF the navy
ne knows that the destroyer craft modo :,
brilliant and successful drive against tho
o-hoat He knows that the navy deycloped
no financial scandals, and he had been Ie1
70 believe that when tho war came tbc
Navy Department found ready with !,
complete plan OF mobilization and OF action.
But Admiral Sims comes along with nm
Indictment which leaves the good citizen no.
wildcred This officer admits with rescrya
tlons mat the navy did Il very fair iob bnt
ana IL not because of efficiency on the mart
OIL inc Navy Department, but in spite OF in
ehclency in Washington. He contends thar
,he department gave little or no support TO
'ne naval forces abroad; that there was CON
llnuai harassing Of the men on the 6rinc
me by the authorities in washington. and
mat the declaration of war found the Navy
department totally unprcpared to moot tho
big problems ahead of it,
IL is quite obvious that there is Soma
an,nuS somewhere in the situation which
-fuiniral sims has developed. The charges
WHICH ne mas made should be fully inquired
INTO That goes without saying, and Secrc
.ary Daniels should welcome an mpartia1
investigation, but at tho same time tho com.
ihlt'ec, II 1t is fair-minded, will inycstira,o
Auihlrai sims also. 1t should determine
"hcthcr or not that officer has returned IA
inns country with unworthy prcjudices in his
nedrt "hether or not he has not been ON
friendly terms with Admiral Benson. chief &c
-, rs l'c "nolc OF tho war, and
whether or not he is disa appointed over IN,
lact that he was not appointed n sunoooa
benson when the latter withdrew from tba
department because of retirement under tho
age law. -
If Admiral Sims has engaged in a reud
with the department. as has been rcneatodI,.
minated the committee should look core
.ullS INTO IL ana decide for itself to what ex
tent the charges made against tho department
have been colorcd, consciously or unnon
sciously by personal antagonisms on Tho mr.,
OF Admiral Sims i