Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-14
FORGERY, ASSERTS
DANIELS, DENYING
HE SIGNED CABLE
Message Quoted by Ad-
miral Sims Is FlatIy
COntradicted.
EVIDENCE SHOWN PROVES
DISCREPANCY CLAIM
Originals of Instructions Ac-
credited to Secretary Indi-
cate Different Signature.
SIMS REFUSES TO COMMENT
Denial OF Undcrsca Menace Is
Floutcd by Report OF
GlcuvcS.
SIMS REFUSES TO COMMENT
Denial OF Undcrsca Menace Is
Floutcd by Report OF
Glcnvcs.
my Associated rr.r.1

WASIllNGTON, May i3.-Sccrctary
Daniels told the Senate naval invcsti-
eating committee today that he had
not signed q cablegram bearing what
purportcd to be his signature which
was among those read TO t!ic commit
tee by Rcar-Admiral Sims when the
investigation began. The original OF
the message. Mr. Daniels said. did
not show his signature. and he added
that his name had been forged to the
copy presented by Admiral sims.
MIR. Daniels declared Admiral Sims
in his statement had stressed the
words. Signed Daniels" In comment
ing on the message. and had said that
Its purport hadc made him feet like
Jumping overheard"
The cabicgram concluded with the
sentence:
I'm regard to conveys. I consider
that American vessels having armed
guard are safer when sailing indc-
pcndcntly."
Original signed "a. r. Carter"
The original Of the cable was found
AT the British embassy, through which
II was transmitted. aud was signed
a. j. Carter. BY Direction Of the
Chic! Of Naval Operations" Mr.
Daniels told the committee. present
ing pho;ostatic copies OF the orig
/ inal dispatch. lie added that he had
never held the opinion set forth, and
knew as soon as Admiral Sims read
the message to the committee that
hc had not signed II.
Somewhere some body was guilty OF
signing my name tn an official dis
patch, which the original. here pro-
duced. shows I never signed" said
Mr.. Daniels. 'or OF ahering a dis
patch By craslng the real signature
and substituting Daniels knew
that II my name appeared on such n
telegram II would be because some
body had forged my name TO It."
Sims Owes Apology.
Admiral Sims owed both the coun-
try and himself an apology for the
impression conveyed By testimony
based upon false signature, MIR.
Daniels said. and should produce tho
person who altered the signature.
Much Of Secretary Daniels ,csti.
mony today was devoted to Admiral
sims criticisms Of the departments
Il troop convoy methods. The admiral.
d MIR. Daniels declared. persisted in re-
garding cargo ships as more vital 10
the allied cause than troop ships. and
took the attitude that the former
should be protected. IL necessary. 1t
the cost of transports. This attitude
caused the department much SRxi-
ety. he added, and finally resulted
in blunt" admonition that the pro-
lection OF troop ships was the mavy's
first mission.
Mr.. Daniels told the committee he
did not know that Admiral Sims held
such n view until the officer testi-
fed recently before court of in
aury. or he would have recalled the
officer from London.
Attempted to Deny Report.
Admiral Sims attempts TO distrcdit
the reports that the first American
convoy was attacked by submarines
\ were in line with his attempts to
throw doubt upon the entire con-
auct of the first convoy" the vii
ness asserted. Reports Of Admiral;
Gleaves and the French general staff
left no doubt that there were subma-
rines in the vicinity and that the
convoy Was attacked. he said
Tho convoy system was originally
sponsored by the American navy and
was not proposed by the British and
held up until the Navy De1artmcnt's
acceptance could be obtained. as as
serted by Admiral Sims, said Sccrc-
tary Daniels. 1t WAS not adopted
until several months after the Unitcd
states entered the wsr, because it
was necessary TO wait until American
vessels arrived overseas before the
system could be put In effect. he said.
Gnvc Credit to british.
The secretary took exception TO
Admiral Sims attempts TO give the
British most of the credit for carry
ing American troops overseas and
protecting them en- route" He do
c'a:ea that nearly so per cent OF Per-
sh!ne's soldiers were carried in
. mer!can SHIPS and that more than
- per cent of the protecting forces
wcrc furnished by the United States
Navy.
The British did carry a large num-
he. OF our troops and deserves great
credit for it," said Mr.. Daniels. hut
IL should be remembered that they
were paid for every man they car
ricd"
secretary Daniels was told today
OF persistent rumors in Washington
that disciplinary measures had been
ordered against Admiral Sims. effec-
tive as soon as the senate investiga-
tion ends He denied that he had is
sued any such orders and said:
Just now am presenting case
'oefore p Senate committee. have
had no tims TO consider such n thing
and have no further comment to Of
fer regarding 1t. I Will not even
Continued on Third Page.)