Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-15
SIMS WAS IGNORED
IN CONVOY PLANS;
BACK At DANIELS
Tells Senate Investigating Com
mittee Unsafe Code Endangered
Laden American Troopships.
KEPT IN DARK" HE SAYS
" Associated Press to Every Evening

BY Associated Press to Every Evening
Washington. March 15.-German sub
marines were enabled to attack the first
convoy of American troop ships sent t.
France because the Navy Department
used an unsafe code which was inter-
cepted and deciphered, Rear Admiral
Sims today told the Senate investigating
committee.
Only measure OF good luck" brought
the convoy safely TO port, the admiral
said and other troopships and other
destroyers were endangered through sim
liar incidents early IN the war.
The announcement of the sailing of the
first American destroyer wa printed IN
Berlin four days before they arrived at
Queenstown" declared the officer.
Admiral Sims said he implored the
department not TO send messages regard
ing troop conveys in the code referred
to but the warning was disregarded. All
the other allies and the enemy were using
new wartime codes, he said, while the
United States continued to trust invalu-
able information TO a code used for many
years.
Information regarding conveys bound
for France was known III social circles IN
Paris before even General Pershing was
informed Off cially, Admiral Sims asserted.
To illustrate the widespread knowledge
of the plans for the first convoy's depart
ure the admiral testified that the United
States naval attac he at Paris obtained
his first word that troop ships were sailing
from a woman whose husband had
received the information in business
message.
were confusing and did not conform
%. hn .lf.acf ,,,atbalc of rIr
troops in transit. Admiral Sims said. and
the Navy Department made no effort
to consult him and thus avail itself of the
experience of the allies in handling troop
ships. Regulations for the conveys were
drawn up in the war and navy departments
and signed by President Wilson, Secre-
taries Baker and Daniels, General Bliss
and Admiral Benson on May 27, without
reference to him, the admiral stated.
and his first knowledge of these arrange
ments came when he received copy of
the regulations nearly FIVE months later,
"As an Illustration of how completely
/ was in the dark" the admiral said 81
received information for both the French
and British naval authorities concerning
the convoy before ! was officially informed
of it by the department"
Referring to q message from Secretary
Daniels dated June D, 1917, marked very
confidential and containing directions
for the protection of the conveys by
destroyers, Admiral Sims said il would
be impossible to find more striking /,
example of the departments insistence
upon making decisions based upon COM
plete misinformation."
THE whole scheme OF troop convoy
outlined IN this message showed a COM
plete ignorance and disregard of convoy
methods and of war experience in the
submarine danger zone, he continued
In response to his protests the admiral
said he received q reply that the depart
ment recognizes the soundness OF your
but because of the
present sensitive public opinion, con-
siders it essential that the escort orders !
for the first convoy already issued, be |
executed by American destroyers." The |
admiral had recommended. nc testified, !
that the conveys be protected by what |
ever allied escorts We're available. There |
was no question at any time, Admiral |
Sims said, rs to whether troops should |
get the very best protection available.
Throughout the war, ne added, i
American troops received more pro- |
ectioD than the Allies were able TO give |
heir own tr oops on the high seas"