Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-17
SIMS WANTS RUBBER
STAMP NAVAL HEAD,
DANIELS INSISTS
Secretary Declares Predecessor
Warned Him Against Secret
Effort to "Prussianize'
Navy's Direction.
OFFICERS WANT SERVICE
OUT OF CIVILIAN CONTROL
py Associated Press 10 Every Evening

By Associated Press 20 Every Evening
Washington. Nav i7.--Secretary Dam
iels today let go verbal barrage against
the advocates for the general staff of the
navy. declaring that they sought 20 "Prtls-
sianize" the Navy Department and make
the civilian secretary rubber stamp
He told the Senate Committee investlgnt-
ing the navy s conduct OF the war, that
one of Rear Admiral Sims chief objects 10
writing his letter and referring tn TINS
investigation was 10 cirtail the power of
the secretary and remove the navy, so
far as possible from civilian control,
Running like thread through most
nj the evidence that has been gwen be-
fore the committee has been advocacy Of
the general staff for the conduct OF the
American navy and elimination Of civilian
control said Mr. Daniels. Some OF the
officers have frankly avowed their advo-
cacv of "PrIssianizing the navy.
About the only piece Of advice former
Secretary George Won l.. Meyer gave hun
when he succeeded hlm, Mr. Daniels as-
serted. was the admonitlon that there were
| officers in the navy who wished less power
| for the civilian secretary and more Tor
! themselves.
Powers lie here Mr.. Daniels SAID
! Never told him rs he pointed 20 the secre-
/ tary' i desk. "and it should remain here.
lie did not fully understand what his
/ predecessor meant until few months
! later when Admiral Fiske and other Of
| ficers of the Won Iirpitz system OF navai
control sought to organize the American
navy on the 'Prusslan plan, secretary
| Daniels said
Rcar Admiral Sims original charge,
against the NAVY Department showed
! and "a de-
sire tn damage the ranking officers VINO
directed naval operation during the war,
the secretary declared, adding that The
evidence has shown desire To discredit
tho secretary Of the navy because ne was
| not n rubber stamp secretary.
If congress wished - depart from nc
traditional American policy Of civilIan
control az the navy il should do 90 direct.
~ and clearly and without protensel saic
Mr. Daniels, hy making An admiral secre
tarv of the navy and member ot th'
Presidents cabinet The most ar1eh'
advocates of the general staff system has
not advocated going ~ far however, be
cause thev wished to keep ''ruhbe'
sfaInp" civilian d q fglrehead N tn
secretary's Office, he declared
The witness quoted from reports an'
writings of other naval secretaries 4
show. he said. that they too struggle
against substitution of the general stat
system
nIf Congress believes that civilian con
troll i a great evil, SAID Mr. lhnieisr
i hcl,eves that the policy which has pre-
vailed SINCE the foundation of orr govern
mcnt sholId h. reversed. and that tn
nayv should be removed from civlllai
control 1T II follow Sims lead. create,
s,.,,craI etaf on the German model ant
rerre 4t,,ne Non Tlrpltz 10 rule th'
49, Iett4. have no carnouflage about i
ALohsh III. roejtlan of secretary u n
/ navy and provide that some adInlfa
, shail flT hat post with seat in the Presl
da,,t.s rabinef That would be the fran
snd anen yav "a 10 il rather than 70 pu
-ntn, ~irns ia control of the navy, with
nominal secretary as his clerk. TnessenRt
bov and rubber stamp
II this committee desires % False ms
iss,,. am perfectly willing . 20
Congress and the country with II and i
: tbe american people and their chose
renres.ntatives make the decision.