Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-03-11
BONE HEAD PLAYS
DURING THE WAR
ARE CHARGED To
Sec \ DANIELS
Admiral Sims Says Lack of
Cooperation Early in the
Struggle Cost Many Lives,
Caused Big financial Loss
ARMED SHIPS SAFER
THAN CONVOY SYSTEM
Department Not in Favor at
First of EScorting Trans
ports; CablegranS Not
Acted Upon Promptly, Says

Inv MORNING JOURNAL ssFcIAL LEASED wls''
washington, March 10.-Failure
Of the navy department to fully CO.
operate in the war during the first
six months after Americas entry
cost half a million lives, fifteen Dill
lions of dollars, 2.50O,0OO tons ol
shipping and prevented a victory
over Germany by July, 1915 Rear
Admiral Sims told the senate inVes-
tigating committee today in pre-
senting documentary evidence IN
support of his charges of delay
against the department.
The officer read to committee
recommendation he had made to
the department Immediately upon
his arrival in London in 1917.
cablegram sent in April, 1917 said
the critical area where the war
would be won or lost was in the
eastern Atlantic at the focus of all
lines of ocean communication to
England and France. Admiral Sims
told the committee that although
he repeatedly urged that every de-
stroyer and small craft that could
bn sent to sea be dispatched imme-
diately to this area, his recommen-
dation was not complied with un-
til about six months later.
Admiral Sims said that when hd
found that his own efforts to i'm
press upon the navy department
the seriousness of the situation were
unavailing, he invoked the aid of
the late Ambassador Page at Lon
don, who on April 81, 1917, sent a
confidential telegram cablegram to
Secretary Lansing and President
Wilson, declaring that there is
reason for the greatest alarm about
the issue of the war, caused by the
increasing success of German sub
marines"
The ambassador urged the i'm
mediate assignment of every avail
able United States destroyer and
submarine chaser to British waters.
Even this request was unheeded,
for some months, Admiral Sims
said.
The witness read a message to
the department in 1917. saying the
British government appreciated
what the United, States was doing
to keep down submarines.
Incidentally" he added, "that
is a case of international politeness
They were thanking us for sending
six destrOyers."
Admiral Sims insisted that he
had been handicapped by failure
of the department to keep him in
formed of its plans. He read eX-
cerpts from his messages, urging
adoption of the convoy system and
said:
II will show that great losses
were sustained due to resistance OF
the United states to taking up the
convoy system"
He then read a department mes
sage sent him in May, and signed
by Secretary Daniels.
"In regard to convoy" 1t read
"T consider American vessels hav-
ing armed guards are safer when
sailing independently"
when / got that message I was
about ready to jump overheard,
continued Admiral Sims. II real
ized that the department did not
understand or appreciate the sit
uation.'
Admiral Sims said that on April
IA. Is, II, % and "a he sent ca
kilograms to the department. urins
the necessity of sending naval aid
promptly, but that they had little
effect. on April 16, he said, he
received message from the de-
partment saying that yours OF
April IA, will be given earnest ant
serious attention" and on April %
he received another message sayine
that "six destroyers are ready tC
sail Immediately upon receiving in
formation as to desired port ant
hest route to follow as they ap
proach the Irish coast
On the same date, Admiral Sins
said, he received another dispatcl
signed by Secretary Daniels, in
forming him that the department
contemplated sending four destroy
ers and four patrol vessels to thu
Arctic coast to cooperate will
Russian forces and asked his opin
ion Of the proposition.
After consulting the British ad
miralty. Admiral Sims said h,
urged the navy department not t.
send any forces to the Arctic, bu
TO follow his original recommenda
tions. On April 90, he said, he re
ceived a message informing him o