Evening star., 1920-03-15
TROOPSH|PS SAVED
BY THE GOODNESS
OF GOD, SAYS SIMS
"Crassest Ignorance" Shown
in Early Convoy System.
Admiral Asserts.
DECLARES UNSAFE CODE
LED TO U-B0AT ATTACK

Berlin Printed Sailings of q. s.
Destroyers Four Days Prior to
Arrival in England"
'God was good to us and we did not
lose any Of our troopships." said Rear
Admiral William S. Sims today, sum-
ming up his criticisms of the Navy De-
partment's plans for the protection Of
early United States conveys. The de-
partment showed the "crassest igno-
rance of the elements of the problem
in dealing with the convoy system, he
declared
There was much apprehension in the
Navy Department in the summer OF
1917 lest the enemy attempt battle
cruiser raid in the Atlantic against
east-bound troopships. the admiral
said. Many ''impracticable" plans were
suggested by the department to guard
against such contingency, he said.
and one such plan included asking Japan
to send squadron of fast battle cruisers
to the Atlantic to pursue German battle
cruisers and protect American conveys.
No reply was received to the request.
the officer said. The United States had
no battle cruisers Of its own then. he
said.
Declares Code Deciphered.
German submarines were enabled to
attack the first convoy of American
Navy Department used an unsafe code,
which was intercepted and deciphered,
Admiral Sims told the committee.
Only measure of good luck"
brought the convoy safely to port, the
admiral said, and other troopships and
destroyers were endangered through
similar incidents early in the war.
The announcement of the sailing Of =
the first American destroyers was
printed in Berlin four days before they
arrived at Queenstown" declared the
officer.
! Admiral Sims said he implored the
department not to send messages re-
garding troop conveys in the code re-
, ferred to. but the warning was disre-
garded. All the other allies and the
enemy were using new wartime codes.
he said. while the United States con-
tinued to trust invaluable Information
to q code used Tor many years.
| II 1nfarmafieHs Se6ArdinS eonvoys hound
for France was known in social circles
in Paris before even Gen. Pershing was
informed officially. Admiral Sims as
|
knoyledgs Of the plans for the first COR
v0ts departure. the admiral testified
that the United States naval attache at
Paris obtained his first word that troops
| ships were sailing from a woman whoso
husband had received the information
in business message.
AFranEenents "Confuslng.-
Arrangements for the early con-
voys were Confusing and did not
conform to the allies methods Of
Safeguarding troops in transit. Admi-.-
raj Sims said. and the Navy Depart
ment made no effort to consult him
ence Of the allies in handling troop
ships. Regulations for the conveys
were drawn up in the War and Navy
departments and signed by President
Wilson. Secretaries Baker and Dan
iels. Gen. Bliss and Admiral Benson
Admiral Sims stated. and his first
knowledge of these arrangements
came when he received copy of the
regulations nearly five months later.
LAS an illustration of how COM
pletely l was in the dark" the admi-
raj said. Il received Information from
both the French and British naval au-
thorities concerning the convoy be-
fore was officially informed of II
by the department"
Referring to a message from Sec
retary Daniels dated June 6. 1917.
marked very confidentiaT' and con-
tanning directions for the protection
of the convoy by destroyers. Admiral
Sims said it would be impossible to
find a more striking example of the
departments insistence upon making
decisions based upon complete misin-
formation
.Shewed Complete Ignorance
-
outlined in this message. showed
complete ignorance and disregard OF
convoy me rods and of war expert
ence in the submarine danger zone"
he continue
In respon. to his protest. the ad-
miral said, he received reply that
the department recognizes the sound
ness OF your recommendations" bot
because of the present sensitive pub
lio opinion considers it essential that
already issued. be executed by Amer
lean destroyers." The admiral had
recommended. he testified. that the
conveys be protected by whatever
was no question at any time. Admiral
Sims said. as to whether troops should
get the very best protection available.
throughout the war" he added,
lection than the allies were able to
give their own troops on the hikA
seas"
On July 4. 1917. Admiral Sims said.
he received a cable from Secretary
Daniels congratulating him on the
successful escort of the convoy.
II wish to make it perfectly, clear
that 1 have no criticism to make of
the commander Of the troop convoys,"
he said. Such confusion and dincul-
ties as arose were due to orders and
plans given him by the Navy Depart
ment."
Finally Needed Advice.
That the department realized the
inadequacy and danger of the AR
raneements made for the first con-
VOWS was demonstrated. the admiral
asserted, by the fact that even be-
fore the ships sailed he was asked
to submit recommendations for .fu-
ture USE and these recommendations
we're afterward adopted in their en-
tirety. Later. however. Admiral Sims
Gated matters by buying up all avail
able space in passenger ships and
sending troops abroad without giv-
ing allied officials advance notice.
Admiral Sims expressed complete
accord with Secretary Daniels state
ment in a cable to him that every
thing is secondary to having suf-
ficient number (of escorting Destroy
ers) to insure protection. to Ameri- ts
can troops" but declared that tbs
department, by going over his hee6
time after time. made IL impoeoibfe
for him to carry out the Instructions
with entire efnciency. i
regarding disagreements with the e0-
partment ON plans to meet enemy
raids ON convoys, possible German Z
battle cruiser raids In the Atlantic