The Washington times., 1920-02-04

Admiral Sims has criticised Secre-
tary OF the Navy Daniels and the ad-
mirals who const ituted the general
stan of the navy during the war Tor
not letting him direct the entire
naval operations of the navy from
his position in London.
But the general naval stan at
Washington had ideas OF their own
concerning the handling or the
American navy. and, so FAR as IL was
proper to act Independently OF the
British navy. they proposed TO exer-
else their own Judgment and not the
Judgment of Admiral Sims. SO when
Admiral Sims sent a suggestion TO
Washington they passed upon 1t ac-
cording to their own judgment
When they agreed with Admiral
Sims they carried out the suggestion.
On. the other hand, the general stan
found Admiral Sims TOO often unwill-
ing, as a subordinate officer, TO carry
out the suggestions OF his superlors,
A Glaring Instance.
A very glaring instance OF dila-
toriness and opposition from Sims
because British slowness to take 10
new ideas quickly is shown in the
building of the famous North sea
mine barrage.
This was the most deadly blow
struck at the German submarine
menace during the whole war by any
of the allied navies. 1t was the
greatest mine-laying project ever
known. 1t was conceived and exc
cuted entirely by our American naval
staff sitting in Washington, against
whom Admiral Sims has lodged his
Querulous complaints.
This extraordinary counter-attack
against tho submarines stretched
$50 miles from the Orkney ISLANDS
to Norway. 1t was proposed by our
naval staff Immediately after we en-
tered the war. Early in April, 1917.
the Bureau of Ordnance. of which
Rear Admiral Ralph Earle was chief.
made out a memorandum setting
forth the plans in detail. Admiral
Benson, chief of naval operations, ap-
proved these plans. The general
board of the navy and Secretary
Daniels also approved, as did Presi-
dent Wilson. Thereupon ii was sent
to London, to Admiral Sims, and by
him laid before the British admiralty
Delayed Until Autumn.
The admiralty disapproved the idea,
and Sims thereupon expressed MS
personal opinion that the whole thing
was impracticable. But our Navy De-
partment insisted and persisted and,
after six months of delay in London
British consent to cooperate was IL
nally obtained. But Sims seemed
greatly annoyed that the general
staff, consisting of admirals of the
navy and the Secretary of the Navy
and the President, insisted that any
thing was practicable, that the Brit
ish admiralty had not suggested or
of which II had not approved. IL was
not until the autumn of 1917 that the
British finally gave their consent. al
though the United States navy stood
ready for months to begin operations
After the gigantic undertaking be
gan to show results, Admiral Sims
was prompt to praise the idea and
the work, but at no time did anybody
learn from anything that he SAID
that he had disapproved of IL be-
cause the British Admiralty showed
no enthusiasm for IT and because 1t
came from an American source.
Broke Morale Of Germans.
1t was q tremendous undertaking,
the greatest of its kind ever con-
ceived in the history OF war. 1t In
volved the laying of over 10000 great
mines In a field $50 miles long and
from ten to twenty-five miles wide
and 900 feet In depth. II was called
the North Sea mine barraEe becaus
II partook of the nature ~ an artil
lery barrase, in that II covered tn
ground with scientific completeness
or the 70.100 mines laid, $4,000
were made in America and were laid
by American vessels Tho British
laid 1882. The Americans thus
manufactured, transported acros'
1000 miles Of water and laid 80 per
cont. Of the mines In this bsrrtse
which IL acknowledged to have don
more to destroy the morale OF tn
German navy and to have broueh
about the mutiny of the German