The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-03-18
ADMIRAL SIMS
 HAS FINISHED
 HIS INDICTMENT
tcontinued From Page one.o

| (COnt1nuSd From rage One.1 l If any individual was responsible, Admiral Sims said. the fact would necessarily have to be developed by persons who knew the inner work ings'' of the department during the war.
 The admiral'S summary Of the charges follow:
 That in spite of the fact that the war had been going on for nearly three years and our entry into it. had been imminent at least from Feb- ruary 2, 1917, the vessels of the navy were not ready for war service when the United States entered.
 ''That the first few months after America entered the war were ex- tremely critical ones foE the whole al- lied cause, due to the success of en- emy submarines
 "That this critical situation was made clear to the Navy Department a few days after America entered the war and repeatedly thereafter by cables and letters, supported by inde' pendent advices to the government from the American ambassador in London and by MT. Hoover.
 That the Navy Department sup piled me with no plans or policy cov- tering our participation in the war for three months after our entry therein
 'That having information as to the critical situation of the Allies the Navy Department did not promptly assist them and thereby prolonged the war by delaying the sending ol apti-submarine vessels. none reaching Europe for nearly a month after wal was declared, and 27s months clap sing before thirty vessels arrived.
 That the navy department failed to appreciate the military value o1 time.
 ..That the navy department violated fundamental military principles in at 1 tempting to formulate war plans O 1 operation without having sufhcien knowledge of the whole situation.
 'HThat the departments representa- tive with the allied admiralties wa not supported during the most critica i months of the war either by ade uuate personnel or by adequate force
 that could have been supplied.
 "That the navy department vfolat
 ed fundamental military principles il
 dispersing forces away from the criti
 cal area in order to meet diversions o
 the enemy.
 'That the navy department in tn
 first months of the war attempte
 the direction of details althoug.
 5000 miles distant from the scene c
 active operations where the situatfo
 was changing from day to day. - 'That the navy department, in nc
 clearly defining the responsibility m
 delegating auth ority to it's represents tive in Europe, failed to follow soun
 principles, common alike to the bus N ness and military professions.
 tThat the navy department by COT
 trolling the operations and move x. ments of certain forces within th 1 war area violated the fundament - military principle of unity of con lv mand.
 "a s"That the navy department faile as to keeps it's representative abros re completely informed as to its plal
 affecting dispatch and disposition ee forces in the war zone. and frequen ,n ly reported decisions in such matte ln through information gained fro le sources other than its representatr' CT in the war Zone.
 ;i- Admiral Sims said he was not il
 sensible to the splendid work dol
 by the navy at large or the vario1
 bureaus and other offices of the na7
 department." His statements we
 directed almost entirely to poin - ing out defects in the administratit
 of the navy department during u
 first few months of the war, he sai lis ssThe navy, if Loyalty and proper
  ew ed upon to maintain the finest trad h. tions of the service,'' he added, and nd the officers and men of the naval m: re itia and naval reserve, he said tn h. "without their invaluable help mu' h. of the work done by the navy in th zee war could not have been unde le- taken.
 iss .sThe outstanding feature of the la service was the cheerful and Toy IT, support which they gave to the reg be lar navy at all times and under 'u- conditions" he declared. Inn The thought would occur to maj be persons, Admiral Sims said, tn le- s'hindsight is better than foresight al
 that it is always easy in the light
 h:ndsight to point out errors comml
 ted in any undertaking" But the on sue under investigation was too 1T 55 portant, he added, to be affected he such theories.
 1te '.Hindsight must not be blindsight ile he declared.
 ad Admiral Sims direct testimony fill nd nearly 200 large printed pages and DOT took him nearly Is hours to read 1t. $.