Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-05-28
WILSON'S STRONG STAND
DURING WAR REVEALED
Administration Using Answer to
Sims Attack to Show That Pussy-
footing Not Presidents Policy.

! In letter of recent date, David
Lawrence, noted correspondent says
among other things, something more
important than the mere refutation
or Admiral Sims charges that the
American navy did not do it's proper
share in the early stages of the war,
! is behind the revelations made by
Secretary Daniels with the consent of
President Wilson.
The administration has long smart
ed under the criticism that it pussy
rooted" during the war, that it
slowed up" and that it hesitated to
make sacrifices either on land or
sea in the hope that a peace by
negotiation" might shorten the war.
Even as the President was endeavor-
ing to answer the final plea of the
Germans for an armistice, he was be-
ing criticised by political orators on
the ground that he wanted to make
"a soft peace" 1t will be remember ID
that unconditional surrender clubs"
were organized to Offset this sup
posed weakness of the President.
Fighting Speech" Suppressed.
Throughout it all Mr.. Wilson has
maintained secrecy. Many people in
the capitol knew, for instance. that
he made that fighting speech aboard
the battleship Pennsylvania before
the assembled officers of the Atlantic
feet. The White House was implored
by newspaper men to permit the pub
lication of that address. 1t was con-
tended that it would do a great deal
toward enthusing the American peo-
pie. but the President refused. 1t was
evident. however, that the freedom
with which he had criticised the Brit
ish navy was the fundamental reason.
1t was feared that publication Of
these remarks might mean dissension
and give comfort to the enemy.
But there are dozens Of documents
like Athe one Secretary Daniels has
just made public which throw light
|on how America conducted the war.
Congress has seen fit to probe ex-
penditures and has given an impress
sion that the government was ex-
Itravagant and wasteful.
The administration has made no
answer. But as the political campaign
approaches there will be many an
swers. Charges that money was
wastefully spent will be refuted by
lifting the veil on the entire manage
ment Of the war. 1t will be found,
for instance, that the Allies were In
much more desperate straits than he
world generally knew. 1t will be dis
closed that their appeals to the Presi-
dent were answered one after the
other with a spirit that threw "prud-
ence to the winds" The perilous
situation of the Allies influenced a
good many hasty actions on the part
of the American government which
never would have been sanctioned in
moments OF calm deliberation.
Controversy With British.
The controversy between the Amer
ican and British navies continued for
many months. The Sims episode was
only one of a number. Again and
again the two navies were arguing
how the war should be fought. The
British had appeared content to fight
a defensive war. President wilson
was insisting always on an offensive
even though it meant concentrating
the entire fleets Of the allies and
making a raid and landing on the
German coast
The Presidents idea Of shortening
the war was to combine the Allied
force into an overwhelming weapon.
He advocated the same kind or tao
tics on land. He believed in Marshal
Foch from the first. He didn't hesl-
tate to approve the request for the
Drlgadtng or American lioopo Win
British or French. doing something
in that connection incidentally which
amazed the European nations-for
Mr. Wilson didn't reveal any national
such as had troubled
the British and French governments
in handling their military men.
There may be good deal of politi-
cal mud singing this year, but OF
one thing the public can rest assured
the administration is not going TO al
low the American war record to be
beclouded.
Sims Started Something.
Admiral Sims started something