The New York herald., 1920-01-20

| what instructions / had given Admiral
Sims"
| Secretary Daniels explained that at the
time Rear Admiral Sims was selected to
go to London, the United States govern
ment had broken diplomatic relations With
Germany, and that American merchant
ships were being armed, but that country
was still neutral. For that reason he
warned Admiral Sims to be discreet and
did refer to his Guild Hall speech for
which President Taft administered a
reprimand, and cautioned him against o
repetition He said further that IL was ex-
planned to Admiral Sims that the Ameri-
can Ambassador at London had advised
that naval officer, preferably one with
the rank of admiral be sent to Eengland,
to observe and report to the Navy De-
partment on the enemy's methods OF war
fare as well as the British measures toI
combat them.
Sims Business to Obey.
Later, when tho United States entered
the war. Rear Admiral Sims was made
commander Of the United States Naval
forces operating in European waters.
His businss to obey" said Secretary
Daniels. His duties were to make recon-
menda tions, give US all the information
and all the facts. and then carry out In
structions from the department"
The attention Of Secretary Daniels was
called to the statement Of Rear Admiral
Sims to. the effect that Rear Admiral
Benson and other high naval officers
were present at the time he (Sims) was
| told that the United States would as soon
war against Great Britain as against the
Central Powers. to which he replied
"Others may have been present at some
part of the interview. do not desire now
! to take up all these different items I
could do this, but, Of course, the first thing
is that Rear Admiral Sims must be re-
quired to establish every criticism he has
made of this department. This is perfectly
satisfactory to me. If the Senate investi-
gates, very well. II not, some other
tribunal will take up the question OF
! whether the navy did its full duty. That
| will be taken up. If the Senate does not
undertake it, the department will see that
tribunal will do so.'
Proud Of Work Accomplished.
i at do not of course, mean to convey
the idea that the navy was one hundred
per cent efficient every day. but the truth
is that all the things we're done that were
/ possible There wasn't any possible energy
| in America to increase its efficiency that
was not employed Shops were erected,
ships were built. All during the war we
did everything in a strain, and we did
job that the American people are proud
Of"
"I gave orders early in February that
nobody should be allowed to go into
navy yard, and directed all navy yard
personnel to press the work to the limit.
There isn't a man in America who had
even a little ship that he thought could
be of value that we did not secure where
possible and most of them gladly COS
operated.
".I have thought some men in Congress
might say that the navy ought not to
have bought and taken over some yachts
not built for such work and sent over to
hunt submarines We did buy a lot OF
them and some cost large sums, but
obtained as promptly as possible every
thing that could be of any service. We
did not take the yachts obtained from
Mr.. Gerry, Mr.. Morgan or Mr.. Vanderbilt
and others and send them over for fight
ing until they were converted into fight
ing craft, which took time. We did not
send all our old destroyers, for We had
some that were not tit. We had only
about fifty effective destroyers.
| THE primary thing / looked after in
this war was to safely convoy the soldiers
that we sent to Europe. Hunting sub
marines was another great Job. These and
4 the great barrage were the outstanding
accomplishments of the navy. There was
lsome difference or opinion of destroyers
that could be sent to convoy our soldiers
and whether 1t was more important to re-
tain a number IN the submarine hunt.
the paramount duty of the navy. 1t was
the protection OF our troops.
"It has been said that the British con-
voyed most Of our troops. We took by
British and American ships 100000 SOL
diers to France. The American ships con-
voyed more than 100000 of them We
conveyed our soldiers safely. That was
the paramount thing. We did a great job
and all the men IN the navy did a great
job. 1t is pity now that any reason
should cause anybody to say we did not
do all that could be done. When the
American people know fully what the
navy did they will say, The navy has
done the biggest job in safely conveying
troops in the history OF the world.
y Secretary Daniels was asked If he had
anything to say in regard to the state
ment credited to Major General Leonard
Wood, in which he is alleged to have de-
cared THE navy Is a floating death trap
for the personnel" to which he replied--
II haven't anything to say about Gen.
eral Woods speech. l have nothing to
say about his remarks If anybody wants
to put him on oath and let him tell what
he knows about the navy he might be
} called before the committee and he can
explain his expert knowledge"
The statement said to have been made
: by General Leonard Wood in Boston last
might that ''the navy is a floating death
trap aroused good deal of feeling
; among members of the House Committee
on Naval Affairs, and probably will result
In special session Of the committee for
, the purpose of obtaining from General
Wood an explanation Of what he meant
by it.