Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1920-01-23
DANIELS DEFENDS
SELF At INQUIRY
Secretary Says No Organization
Ever Did Better lob Than
u. S. Navy.
REPLIES TO ADMIRAL SIMS
Declares Officers Policy Was to Divert
Conveys to Guard Merchandise
Gen. Wood Denies Calling
Navy a Death Trap"

Washington, Jan. 2l.-There viii be
a complete and full investigation byo
the senate of the charges made by Ad-
miral William S. Sims against the con-
duet and naval policy of Secretary
Daniels during the war The investi-
cation was ordered by the fun COM
mittee on naval affairs OF the senate
at meeting called bs Chairman
Page.
The subcommittee now probing the
manner in which awards for distin-
guished service during the war were
made will conduct the inquiry as soon
as the matters relating to the awards
are finished. Meanwhile court of In
quiry is In sight for Admiral Sims IL
the congressional inquiry does not go
10 the bottom of all the charges made
by the admiral. and his motives In
attacking the naval administrator, OF
which in time of war the president is
the actual and active head" Secretary
Daniels let II be known.
Chairman Hale said the committee
would not complete its investigation
of naval decorations IN less than ten
days.
Unless the senate investigation OF
Reg- Admiral Sims charges Of failure
oe the navy department to cooperate
fully with the allies during the war Is
made to the entire satisfaction of the
American people, an inquiry will be
made by a naval board, Secretary
Daniels announced He added that
mo organization in the history Of the
world ever did better job than the
American navy"
While refusing 70 discuss Admiral
Sims letter OF criticism of the depart
ment. Mr. Daniels indicated the nd
miral frequently clashed with the de-
partment through his lnsistence that
more destroyers be withrawn from
troop conveys 10 augment the antlsub-
marine forces IN European waters.
"The paramount duty OF the Amer
lean navy" Mr., Daniels declared, was
to protect the passage of American
troops 20 Europe and the safeguarding
Of merchant shipping, vital as that
was recognized 10 be, necessarily was
secondary"
Secretary Daniels emphasized that.
contrary 10 the popular impression.
Admiral Sims throughout the war was
subordinate 10 Admiral Mayo. com
mander In chief of the Atlantic feet.
He Indicated that on the question of
the distribution Of destroyer strength
as well as on other questions Admiral
Sims was oyerruled by Admiral Mayo
as well as the department.
Every naval order, every document
bearing on the navy's war activities"
Mr.. Daniels continued, "ls open to the
light of day. and the more thoroughly
the entire record is laid before tho
people of thls country the greater tho
pride they can have In the achieve
ment of their navy The country wis
be entirely reassured."
Secretary Daniels said that In the
first summer Of the war, Admiral Sims
was given the title of commander OF
TIE United States naval forces In Eu-
ropean waters. but that as matter
of fact his duties were not aaoat."
"The business Of Rear Admiral Sims
was to obey orders" declared the sec
retary. "Hls duties were TO make rec
concentrations, give us all the infor-.
nation and all the facts and then car,
ry out instructions from the depart
meat
tThe country and the world know
already that the job of the navy was
very well done. Whether on the 9th
of June or the 9th Of July. or some
particular date, we should or should
not have sent so many destroyers TO
a certain place, or whether they could
be made ready at that slime, or wheth-
er II was important 10 retain some TO
protect our coasts, were, OF course,
matters Of naval strategy. There may
be differences Of opinion between naval
officers rs TO these matters. but there
is nothing about this big Job the navy
did that / am not willing but glad and
happy for all the people in America
TO know about"
Portland. Me. Jan. PIT did not
say that our navy was a floating
death trap in my speech at Boston. }"
Mai Gen. Leonard Wood said when
Informed that he would be asked to
appear before the house naval COM
mittee to explain his statement quot
ed to that effect. What ] did say
was that the ships that were filed
with unframed men In battle were
Anafln, hnalh TRINA