Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-05-15
MORE revelations
IN WILSON, s WAR
POLICY ARE LIKELY.
David Lawrence Reveals
Fact That Other Docu-
ments Bearing on Conflict
May Be Made Public
ny DAVID LAWRENCE

WASHINGTON, May 13.-Some-
thing more important than the mere
refutation of Admiral Sims charges
that the American navy did not do
it's proper share in the early stages
of the war, something more than a
controversy over war honors is be-
| hind the revelations being made by
Secretary Daniels with the consent
of President Wilson.
The administration has long
smarted under the criticism that it
"pussy-footed" during the war, that
it Slowed up" and that it hesitated
to make big sacrifices either on land
or sea in the hope that "peace by
negotiation" might shorten the war.
Even as the president was endeavor-
ing to answer the final plea of the
Germans for an armistice, he was
being criticized by political orators
"a soft peace" 1t will be remem-
bered that unconditional surrender
clubs" were organized to offset this
supposed weakness of the president.
Throughout it all Mr.. Wilson has
maintained secrecy. Many people in
the capital know, for instance, that
he made that fighting speech aboard
the battleship Pennsylvania before
the assembled officers of the At
lantic fleet. The White House was
implored by newspaper men TO per-
nit the publication of that address.
1t was contended that it would do a
great deal toward enthusing the
American people-but the president
refused. 1t was evident. however.
that the freedom with which he had
criticized the British navy was the
fundamental reason. 1t was feared
that publication of these remarks
might mean dissension among the
allied peoples and might give comfort
to the enemy.
More Answers to Criticism
But there are dozens of documents
just like the one Secretary Daniels
has just made public which throw
light on how America conducted the
war. Congress has seen fit to probe
expenditures and given an impress
sion that the government was ex-
travagant and Wasteful.
The administration has made no
| answer. But as the political cam
paign approaches there will be many
wastefully spent will be refuted by
| lifting the veil on the entire man
agement of the war. 1t will be
found, for instance, that the allies
were in much more desperate straits
than the world generally knew. 1t
to the president were answered one
after the other with a spirit that
threw prudence to the Winds"
The perilous situation of the. al
lies influenced good many hasty
actions on the part of the American
| government which never would have
been sanctioned in moments of calm
elaboration.
| The controversy between the
| American and British navies con
t1nued for many months, The Sims
episode is only one of number,
Again and again the two navies were
arguing how the war should be
fought. The British had appeared
the seas. President Wilson vas in
sisting always on an offensive even
| though 1t meant concentrating the
| entire fleets of the allies and MAX
man coast.
The Presidents Idea
The, presidents idea of shorten
ing the war was to combine the
weapon. He advocated the same
kind of tactics on land. He believed
| in Marshal Foch from the first. He
didn't hesitate to approve the re-
quest for the brigading Of Ameri-
can troops with British Or French.
accidentally which amazed the Eu-
ropean nations-for Mr.. Wilson
didn't reveal any national sensi-
tiveness such as had troubled the
handling their military men.
| There may be a good deal of DO
litical mud-slinging, this year but
of one thing the public can rest as
ing to allow the American war rec
ord to be beclouded. Admiral Sims
started something when he began
his criticism of the navy depart
of the United States navy who were
on the other side took issue with
him. 1t is not a personal contro-
versy 1t is really difference be-
tween the American and the British
way of going at the war. At this
end, it was suspected, that Admiral
! Sims became saturated with the
British viewpoint.
Of OF course it has beer beer, CHARGED,
freedom, that President Wilson was
thoroughly English" and that he
was constantly under British influ-
ence. The covenant of the League
Of t.f,,, Nations has been DENOUNCED as
w Lis Id elFoIl' IL "Ou1u IlOI pS
surprising therefore if the admins
tration took the public into it's con-
! fiden~e on some of the troubles it
had with the British during the
war.
The Army Side
OF course, the British had trouble
with the French and so did the
Americans. Allies never can har-
monize in war time The selection
| of a generalissimo and the estab-
! lishment of unity of command on
| land, as well as water, developed
! because of this friction.
But little has been said about the
| land operations Of the United
States. There is mitch to be made
public just as interesting as the
| messages that passed between the
American and British navies. Gen
eral Pershing could tell some inter-
| esting stories about his troubles with
| the commanders of other armies.
If Major General Wood becomes
the nominee of the Republican party
| and any considerable part of the
campaign is devoted to criticism of
| the way the administration conduct
| ed the war or to a criticism of the
administration for not sending Gen
eral Wood to France, the next series
Of revelations can be expected.
The Sims controversy has merely
started something which the admin
iStratiOn is heIlip'erant1v- ia king adj