The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-03-22
BENSON MADE
FAMOUS REMARK
Told Admiral Sims "Not to Let
British Pull Wool Over
Your Eyes,"

Washington, March 22.-(A. P)-
Rear Admiral William B. Benson,
then chief of naval operations, was
the official who told Rear Admiral
Sims mot to let the British pull the
wool over your eyes; he would as
soon fight them as Germans" Ad-
miral Sims testified today before the
senate committee investigating the
navy's conduct of the war.
Admiral Sims said the remark was
made just after he had received his
final instructions from Secretary
Daniels preparatory to his departure
for England on the eve OF the entry
of the United States into the war,
He added, however that it was not
made in the course of formal in
structions, but during a conversation
in the office of Rear Admiral Palmer,
chief of the bureau OF investigation.
Admiral Sims said he included Ad-
miral Bensons remark in his letter to
Secretary Daniels on Jan. z, regarding
the navys part in the war because III
a man has a prejedice against men
conscious influence on him"
Personal Prejudice.
The admiral told the committee he
had always regarded the admonition as
"a personal prejudice on the part of
Admiral Benson" He described the
former chief of operations as IAN up
standing, honest man who has strong
convictions" and said he believed
everything that Admiral Benson did
during the war was done "conscien-
tiously."
1t was due largely to Admiral Ben
sons confidence in him that he was se-
lected to the high post he occupied dur
ing the war, Admiral Sims said, adding
that in urging his selection Admiral
Benson incurred the dislike of many Of
GERS senior to Admiral Sims who de-
sired the post.
Senator Pittman brought out that Adj
miral Sims had shown n copy of his
letter of Jan. Z to II. p. Dawson, Of
New York, while he was a guest at Mr..
Davisons home about the middle of
January. The officer could not recall
the date, but said his aide thought it
was on Jan. II. lie admitted that
showing the letter was IAN tndscre-
ton"
Plttman and Hale Clash.
Senator Pittman and Chairman Hale
clashed sharply over the form in which
the Nevada senator put some of his
questions to the text of Admiral Sims
direct testimony,
There need be no discourtesy here"
Senator Hale said, land we will have
none"
mo. I will not tolerate any" said
Senator Pittman. II have realized that
you were going to try to break up this
cross examination"
Admiral Sims interrupted to say that
welcomed the cross examination:
that his one desire was to bring out all
the facts.
The witness told the committee that
Admiral Benson repeated his admon-
ton during a conversation the follow
ing day and that he made the same re-
mark six months later In Paris. Ad-
miral Sims said he did not pay particu-
lar attention to the statement at that
time because he believed Admiral Benz
son was intensely anti-Bntish. He
added that this belief was entertained
throughout the service. An
aide recently called his attention to the
the admiral said. and Admiral
Palmer also told him he remembered
hearing Admiral Benson make the
statement.
Then l will tell you the whoe story"
said Admiral Sims. early in April
1917, ! was ordered from my post at
to Washington. When / ar
rived | reported to the navy depart
ment by telephone and was told not
to come TO the department, but TO get
in touch with the chief of the bureau
of navigation. Rear Admiral Leigh c.
Palmer. Everything was very secret.
the way they liked It, | could not get
in touch with the chief of navigation
then and so ! reported to him later at
the department and then | had an in
with the secretary of the navy
in his office. No one else was present.
as ! remember it, The interview was
very brief. was told that | was going
abroad to confer with the allied ad-
mralties and that Ambassador Page
had requested that an officer of high
rank be sent there for that purpose.
After leaving Secretary Daniels office,
or just before going there, | don't re-
member which. | went to the bureau of
The admiral was there and
il was at that time that the remark
the chairman has asked me about was
made"
Whom do you refer to as the ad-
miral, ?" asked Chairman Hale.
Admiral Sims said he did not wish TO
indulge in personalities, but when
pressed by Chairman Hale he said he
to Admiral Benson
admiral Benson's statement should
never have been made public said
Senator Pittman, resuming the cross
examination.
DO you mean by me?" asked Ad-
miral Sims.
by you or any one else" replied the
senator. 1T referred TO a great power
with which we were on friendly terms
md 1t was given TO you IN strict CON
fdcnce, so secretly that II could not
even be put in writing"
TT was not given to me In con
said the admiral 1T was told |
-------------