Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1920-05-19
DANIELS CALLS
SIMS INCAP ABLE
Secretary Says Admiral Lacked
Vision to See Task.
ACCEPTED THE BRITISH VIEW
Calls Him OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES He
BeIittIed the U. S. Navy and Cow
eted Foreign Decorations
Nays Record Untouched.

@AN06%1NAH
Washington. May II. - Secretary
Daniels, before the senate Investigate
ing committee. made his lOng-awaited
reply TO the criticism of Rear Admiral
Sims of the navy's part in the war.
The naval secretary let go broad
side which includes charges that Sims
lacked vision, belittled the work Of the
American navy in contrast to the Brit
ish. coveted British decorations and
aspired TO become an honorary mem
Der of the British admiralty.
The testimony Of other officers In
possession of first-hand knowledge.
Secretary Daniels testified. should be
accepted by all open-minded men as
an absolute refutation OF practically
all Of Admiral Sims charges"
Sims. Secretary Daniels told the COM
nittee. did not measure W to ex-
pectatiOns i'm various ways, of which
he mentioned six. as follows:
Accepted British Views"
"He lacked vision 10 see that great
and new project 10 bar the submarines
from their hunting grounds should be
promptly adopted and carried out. no
matter what the cost or how radical
the departure from what ultra-prudent
men regarded as impracticable.
"He seemed to accept the views Of
the British admiralty as superior 10
anything that would come from Amer
len and urged those views even when
the navy department proposed plans
that proved more effective.
"In public speeches and other ways
he gave a maximum Of credit TO Brit
fish effort and minimized what his
country was doing.
WANTED British Honors."
"He coveted British decorations and
seemed to place higher value on hon
ors given abroad than on hOnors that
could he conferred by the American
government.
"He aspired 10 become a member
of the British admiralty and wrote
complainingly when the American gov
eminent declined TO permit him 10
accept such a tender by the king OF
England.
"He placed protection of merchant
shipping as the main operation Of our
forces abroad. failing TO appreciate
that the protection of transports car
rying troops 10 France was the para
mount naval duty until / felt impelled
10 cable him peremptOrily that such
was our main mission"
Regrets Promoting Sims.
Secretary Daniels testified that had
he known that I'm October, 1918. Sims
had made statements rejecting upon
the contributions of the United States
army and navy TO winning the war TO
members of congress visiting abroad.
he would never have recommended his
promotion.
IF I had known that he proposed.
under the permission granted him, 10
tell the story of what the navy had
done overseas. TO denOunce the Irish
people as he did In his article in the
Worlds Work, the permission would
not have been granted he said.
The investigating committee. Secre-
tary Daniels said. had been 'wearied
and the public nauseated with an abOr-
tive attempt TO ferret out the mole
hills of mistakes and exaggerate them
into mountains. 10 make a noble and
notable accomplishment appear as the
dim and fading background of 'front.'
lspiece Of comparatively unimpOrtant
errors of Judgment"
'sThe navy's record I'm the war
stands untouched today and for all
time. despite criticisms from within or
without" he said.
Sims Violated Trust.
The portion OF Admiral Sims cele-
brated letter that shocked the public
more than any other, Mr.. Daniels said.
was the statement that he had been
told at the navy department mot to
let the British pull the wool over your
eyes. We would as soon fight them
as the Germans"
Il must confess that II shocked me. :"
declared ole secretary. ''for in al my
years of association with officers of
the navy this was the first time / had
ever known one TO make public any
confidential conversation with a su-
perior officer. / did not believe II was
possible for an officer of our navy to
do such a thing.
'The people could not understand
how any patriotic American who put
the good Of his country first could pos
sibly spread broadcast statement
which reflected upon bis own govern
ment and might tend to disturb the
cordial relations with a friendly pow
CT. and violate the confidence repoSed