Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-04-10
SAYS NAVY''s WAR PLANS
MADE Ions !NiAQyANGE.
Admiral. observation-disclosures to Sins
Charge q a of Wen /:
:,Maturcd Policy. ~ j!'l -:
TBy Associated Press. I

years before the. United States Joined
the allies In the world war the navy;
general board prepared comprehen-
sivo plan for war against a central
power" OF Europe, Rear Admiral l..
F. Fletcher today stoli tho Senate In
yeStigatinS Committee. He was re-
plying 10 Rear-Admiral Sims charge
that when The United States entered
the war the Navy Department Ind
no well considered" plans or policies
for. fighting Geriuany.
Many such plans had been made
in the rkst. Admiral Fletcher said.
hat tho plan referred TO covered
every phase Of naval operations am
der The assumed conditions of war
II dealt with the mobilization. organ
izatIon and composition of the fleet.
it's disposition and employment. pro-
lection OF the coasts, bases OF sup
plies on the United States coast. and
in Inc West Indies, routes across the
Atlantic and the Snel,ry's forces and
ana comprised nearly. 500 typcwr!t-
zen pages.
Was Member OF Hoard.
Admiral Fletcher was a member of
the general board during the war.
but was engaged for the most par,
with his duties MS member OF the
wa industries board, the priorities
board and the courr!l, o. national
defense.
Explaining that he wished. TO com
-Nsnt ON certain specific charges
made ~ Admiral Sims before testify
Ing regarding his duties as mem
Der OF these various boards, the wit
ness hTst took NJ sins criticism that
the nayy was not prepared for war
in April. 1917, No navy ever was
or ever MIL be fully prepared for
wax in the eyes OF every one. the
admiral declared. hut the. American
macy. wnenit entered the war. was
"just as well prepared as any other
navy in the world when The great
war burst forth ne asserted.
Points Out Sims Fnllncy.
Admiral Sims declaration that the
Navy Department should have i'm
mediatciy sent all available destroy
crs and small craft abroad to fight
submarines sounded plausible and
couyincins." the witness said. but
suSt, course of action would have
left, the American coasts and ports
fun OF invaluable vessels and car.
goes opsn 10 attack by German san'
marines that had demonstrated in
1916 their ability to cross the ocean.
menace the United states coast and
return 10 Germany unaided. Such
an attack. he asserted, would have
caused great alarm in ihis country
and would. have aneSted sending. any
small vessels to the war ZoMc.f
Admiral Fletcher. characterized the
work Of the war industries board as
one Of the great achievements OF
the war. and declared the members
Of the hoa.d complainant e.hig y; he
efficiency with which the Navy Do
pa-tment conducted the business end
OF its participation III The waT.: -
No loss of shipping or failure OF
France prolonrcd the war for n
single day the admiral asserted. Ad-
miral sims assertion tina; The Navy
Department is responsible for the loss
OF two and half million tons OF ship
ping, the prolonGation of the war for
four months, $4,000, 100000 Of debt
and the loss Of 100000 lives" say:
based, upon assumption and had ne
foundation in fact. the officer de'
ciared
The whole conclusion reached in
the occasion is built mp from the
fiimsy foundation OF Hypothetical
condition and is wholly without val
ue,'' he said.
Pm. Must he Increased. '"
Congress must increase the pay OF
both officers and men if the navy is
10 he saved from disaster" Rear
Admiral Washington, .chicf. of. the
Bureau OF Navigation, declared today
before the Senate committee invcsti-
eating the Sims Daniels roSl?.t
Failure OF Congress TO act. he said.
has resulted In wholcs;ye dcsert!ons
of enlisted men and hWl-re gnu ion
OF hundreds OF officers, The res0l
is. he declared, that the navy is in II
bad way" and If conditions continue
IL not only Will be undermapned.. hY
s2l. but 90 per cent OF those on I'll.
raster Will h. in,Xu. RE mood boyS