The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-14
SIMS L|KENED
TO MUNCHAUSEN
BY Navy CHIEF
Daniels Tells Senate Prolongation
Of War Charge is "Fahtastic
Tale" and 'Baseless.-

Washington, May 14.-White
house officials said today that
President Wilson's war time
address TO the Atlantic fleet
and message to Rear Admiral
Sims were laid before the SEN
ate naval Investigating COM
mftee by Secretary Daniels
with the full consent and ap-
prOval Of the president.
The British admiralty was
criticized in both documents
and reports published here said
that because OF this the presi.
dent might reprimand the naval
secretary for making them pub.
lie.
Washington, May 14.--Secretary
Daniels today told the senate in
vestigating committee that what
he termed Rear Admiral Sims "fal-
lacious and baseless" charges that
the navy department delays unnec-
essarily prolonged the war four
months, was practically the only
charge of unfavorable results from
the many alleged sins of omission
and commission" the officer had
ascribed to the department. 1t was
fully refuted, he added, by the ad-
miral's own testimony.
THE charge of prolongation of
the war was definite and serious
one said the secretary. 1T was
made with reckless disregard of
the facts, and the reasoning and
statistics adduced in its support
are those which one might expect
to find in the fantastic tales OF a
Baron Munchauseu."
Admiral Sims based his estimate
of an unnecessary loss of 100000
lives on an average loss for the al
lies of 5000 men a day, Mr.. Dan
ielS said
Claims Exaggerati0n.
"The loss of 5000 men a day for
four months falls short OF 100000,
but of course 100000 sounds more
impressive than the figure which
would have been arrived at by cor
rect arithmetic the secretary de-
clared.
The admiral based the charge on
assumption that had there been
1000 900 American soldiers in
France by March, 1918. the war
would have ended four months
sooner, Mr.. Daniels said; and COM
pleted the reasoning by assuming
the tonnage losses Of 1917 prevent
ed carrying that number of troops
overseas by that date. and that
failure of the American navy to
cooperate heartily in the first
months of the war resulted in the
heavy tonnage losses.
Holds Charge Fa!laci0us.
1T is not necessary to wander
far into the realm of statistics or
technicalities to show the absolute
faIlacy of Admiral Sims claim"
Mr.. Daniels said. 1T is admitted
by Admiral Sims that in the spring
of 1918 American troops were
transported to France at the rate
of nearly 100000 month, or more
than ten times the rate to which
he said transportation had been re-
stricted in 1917 because of the de-
struction of tonnage. This simple
fact refutes absolutely Admiral
Sims statement that the tonnage
losses of 1917 made it impossible
to transport any considerable
American army and made it nee
essary to limit the number OF
American troops that could be sent
abroad during the first year 10 an
average of approximately $4,000
men per month
~Facilities Never Lacking"
There never was time, the wit
ness said. when tonnage was not
available to carry troops and sup
plies to France as fast as they
could be landed and transported to
the front. although it was only
by extreme exertions that this was
done during the rush of troops in
April"
ALLEGATION of ships to the United
States by the allies was always the
dominant factor, Mr.. Daniels de-
clared..
'As matter of fact, the Ameri-
can army materially shortened the
war" said Secretary Daniels. 1T
got to the front as soon as it was
humanity possible, not by a chance.
but as a result OF careful plans in
volving complete cooperation be-
tween the army and navy. carefully
carried out"
Quotes Haig Assertion.
Mr.. Daniels quoted Field Marshal
Haig as saying that the British ar
mics were unable to intervene un-
til nearly two years had elapsed in
sufficient strength adequately to
assist the allies. The war was over
10 months after the United States
entered, he said, adding. mo one
can deny that within Is months
after our entry the American army
was in sufficient strength 'ade.
quately to assist the allies"
Mr.. Daniels quoted from the tes-
timony OF Admifals Rodman and
Wilson. Rear Admirals Niblick
Mexican, Straus and Fletcher and
Captain Pratt to show that all ol
these officers refused to support
Admiral Sims charge o. prolonga-