The New York herald., 1920-01-28
DEMANDS REMOVAL
OF ADMIRAL Sims
Representative Byrnes Calls
Naval Officer a "Hyphen-
ated Politician"
SAYS HE LIBELLED ARMY
House Member Asserts Fleet Chief
Should Be Discharged for Vic
lating. Confidence.
SAYS HE LIBELLED ARMY

WAorliNGION, -. "a, .IucSoay.-Sendte
Democrats succeeded again today in block
ing efforts OF Chairman Hale OF the COM
mittee investigating naval decorations. to
bring to a vote a resolution authorizing
the oommittce>to to employ counsel. A mo-
tion for immediate consideration was de-
Sherman Illinois, Republicans, joining
with the Democrats In opposition.
Senator Hale Indicated that he would
continue his efforts to have the resolu-
tion taken from the calendar.
Rear Admiral Sims, a leading figure in
the naval decorations controversy and in
the pending Senate investigation Of the
navy's conduct OF the war, was vigorously
attacked today. in the House by Repre-
sentative ByTnes, Democrat, South Caro-
lima.
Declaring that If the Admiral was ad-
monshed by high naval official not to
let the British pull the WOOL. over his
eyes, as he testified recently before the
Senate naval decorations committee, he
violated q confidence in making the in
structions public, Representative Byrnes
said he deserved "the condemnation Of
every American and dishonorabh dis
charge from the navy"
Called Hyphenated Politician. :
Characterizing Admiral Sims as a
."hyphenated politician Mr.. Byrnes
charged that when serving as commander
of American naval forces In European
waters during the war he had 'libelled the
army and deprecated the work Of the
navy" and had urged that the United
States leave the control of the seas to
Great Britain.
Democratic members frequently inter-
rupted Representative Byrnes with ap-
plause, and when he concluded Demo-
cratic members arose. cheering and clap
ping their hands.
Representative Hustled. Republican,
New York, referring to Mr. Byrnes' as
sertion that Sims possibly should be dis
honorably discharged" from the navy
asked whether the officer VINO admon-
ished him not to let the British pull the
wool over his eyes ought not to be re-
moved, but the Democratic member said
1.-THE admonition was justified. In view Of
Admiral Sims pro British attitude"
while in Paris, on October go 191s."
said Mr.. Byrnes, Admiral Sims told Rep
Glass, OF Virginia; Whaley.
of South Carolina. ana myself. that the
armistice asked for by the enemy would
have 10 be granted because of the failure
[of Pershing 10 break through the German
ranks duo TO the disastrous breakdown in
transportation behind the American lines
Declares Sims Charge False.
I'VE visited the headquarters of the
service of supplies and found that only
a few days previous Pershing had written
the S. o. S. congratuating them upon
their wonderful work in supplying the
forces In the field. His statement was
false, and for his inexcusable slander he
should be made to answer to the Ameri-
can doughboy.
"Ie not only libelIed the army. but he
deprecated the work Of the navy" con-
tinued Mr.. Byrnes. who read copy Of
the London Times quoting a speech Of
Admiral Sims, giving credit to the British
for transporting and conveying twice as
many American troops and merchant ships
TO Europe during the war as did the
American navy and declaring that only
three per cent of the anti-submarine craft
in European waters was American.
This Speech Representative Byrnes
continued. was false from beginning to
end. Sims was so busy fighting the war
over the dining tables of London that he
did not know how many vessels he had
under his command.
His statement that we had transported
only one-third of our troops was false.
His statement that we had escorted
but one-half our troops was equally false.
His statement that we escorted only
one-third of the merchant vessels that
come here is false.
and the Grand Fleet during the war. ]
was impressed with the magnificent part
played by British arms in the war. and
nothing this hyphenated politician could
say will either add to or detract from the
glory of the English people. His efforts
to flatter them by slandering the army
and the navy of the United States will
meet with the contempt of every true
Engiishman as it does Of every true Amer
lean.
Investigation of the award of military
decorations in the army during the war
will be begun next,week by House war
investigating committee. its chairman
Representative Johnson, Republican, Soeth
Dakota, announced today. Other members
OF the committee are Representatives
Bland. Republican, Indiana, and Flood,
Democrat, Virginia.
Plans for the inquiry are being made
by the committees counsel, Samuel I.
Anseli. former Judge Advocate General
FIN general, it was said by the committee
men, that the inquiry would determine
the advisability of asking Congress tc
enact legislation authorizing the bestowal
Of badges OF merit on former enlisted mer
for distinguished service during the war
K:o1 noo1 Horhor.