The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-01-19
INQUIRY INTO
SIMS CHARGES
IS ORDERED
Senate Committee to
Probe Navy Depart
ment's Conduct
~ t-s .ssoe'srsa -ss..

WASHINGTON. Jan. ia-Complcte
Investigation Of Rear Admiral sims
chnrges made against the navy de-
p"rtments conduct OF the war will
be made by subcommittee now In
uuirinE into the award OF naval dec
"rations as soon as Il completes A.,
present task. This decision was made
today by the full senate naval com.
mittee.
Chairman Hale announced that a
separate investigation OF the conduct
"i the war was to be made and no
evidence bearing on this subject
could be heard now senator Pit
man who directed the examination
ot Admiral Sims. cautioned him not
u" comment On any matter not re-
I"t'd TO naval decorations
son. Pittman called the admirntt
attention 20 the fact that some OF his
recommendation FOR decorations had
been changed hy the Knight board
und not by Secretary Daniels. Tho
witness replied that his criticism wns
not Of the perzons VINO made the
changes bul OF the fact thnt they
were changed.
Declaring that in order that there
might be no reflection on the record
OF Commander -. W Hueley. "A
capable officer senator iattnqn read
inc record of the unanimous award
Nv the Knight board OF - s N.
10 captain Shtttrlcc, commanding the
.ossl guard cutter Tampa, sunk by "a
submarine september 1913, with A
loss OF all hands. lie compared the
circumstances tu those surrounding
The loss OF Commander Baglcy's shin.
Recalls Daniels Letter.
senator iittmtn then read the lo'-
Ter from secretary DaHicls to Chair
man Page outlining Ms reasons fot.
awarding medals to the commanding
ouicur 0f ships sunk by the enemy.
Hose sentiments n maintained
would undormI ne HnN military or
Euni2huun' declared Admiral Sims.
No Recommendation the inVestl.
gazing cummittcc might make regard
t.g award of decorations to onIcers
would cause him 60 change his own
recommendation, he added.
IhC committee is not COuvCraunt
win the facts aud could not change
m> iin1l opinion ono fpta." he de-
Elarrd.
80 one who ala not sweat blood
with these officers during the War
would ho competent tu sIy who do
served medals"
Chairman Hale said. The commit.
tee is not here 90 award medals hut
10 investigate the pcts surrounding
awards already made"
secretary Daniels said that In the
first summer uf h war Admiral
Sims was given the title 90 COM
uauder OF the lui,d states naval
forces iu European waters but that
Hs e matter Of fact Dis duties were
not HtlUdi'
Cani dob Well Dnm
THE business uf Rear Admiral
Sims was O. obey orders" declared
the secretary Ills duties were To
make recommendation, give us an
the Information and all the facts amt
then carry out Instructions from the
department. The country and tho
world know already that the job uf
the navy was worry well done. Whether
on The 2ith uf June cor the 2iih uf
July .ur some particular date We
should or should not have sent So
many dcstruA ers Go certain place ur
whether they could boo made ready ut
that time. ur whether % was Import
ANT 90 retain some tu protect our
coasts. Mere 90 course. matters ut
naval strategy. There mtH hv dlf-
f"rcurcs ot opinion between naval Of
fcpr- us tu rhps" matters hut there
b. nothing about This bog Job ne navy
dld that ] HW not only willing but
glad and happy tur 1000 the people 10
America o. know about
There was noI J minute during the
wtr when we did mot do every tniug
We possibly could 10 increase naval
effort ana add naval craft JU fight
submarines Iuu protect our troops
We ordered 900 DESTROYER ana there
wasn't minute during tho war that
work was nor pressed to the fun ca,