The Pensacola journal., 1920-04-09
NAVY IS READY
SAYS ADMIRAL
Wilson Tells Senate Committee
American Fleet Could Have
Fought the Germans
NO DELAY IN ENTRY
Commander of Atlantic Fleet
Says Active List Ships Were
in Complete Readiness.

"oSiihSt TON, Aprli o 1T would nave
been better for the navy if you had
shut up shop after the first few days,
Admiral Wilson, commander in chief
of the Atlantic fleet, today replied to
Chairman Hale of the Senate Investi-
eating Committee, when Hale said all
the committee was trying to do was
to help the navy"
The vessels on the active list of the
navy were never better prepared for
war than when the United States
joined the allies and the Navy Depart
ment had full and complete plans
to combat a German offensive against
the coasts of the United States, Ad-
miral Wilson said. Replying to criti-
cism in the letter from Rear Admiral
Sims to Secretary Daniels that caused
the investigation, Admiral Wilson as
serted that from the moment war
was declared the entire navy--the de-
partment. As well as the fleet-entered
into the prosecution of the war with
the greatest energy and its accom-
plishments deserve the commendation
Of the nation
Admiral Wilson, now commander
in-chief of the Atlantic fleet, COM
manded the patrol force that first pro-
tected waters adjacent to the United
States and later, based on Brest,
France. cooperated in protecting al
lied conveys in the war zone and
hunting U-boats.
Within four days after this country
entered the war representatives of the
allied admiralties were in conference
with Secrtary Danils and naval Off
GERS in Washington outlining the
means by which the most effective
assistance could be rendered by this
country, the witness declared. So far
as he knew, Admiral Wilson said,
every suggestion or proposition put
forward by the allied officials was
promptly agreed to and efficiently car
ried out. The fact that the greater
part of the American army was trans
ported over three thousand miles of
water without life being lost through
efforts of the enemy testified to the
SUCCESS of this cooperation, the ad-
miral asserted
Our naval forces from the start
cooperated in most successful man
ner with the naval forces of our asso-
ciates in many portions of the seas,
Admiral Wilson declared. by their
splendid and efficient work they ma
terially aided in shortening the war
and in this manner saving untold life
and property"
Mistakes the navy made during the
war were so relatively unimportant
that they were hardly worth consider
ing in comparison with its achieve
ments, the witness said.
NO nation upon the approach OF
war had a force of battleships more
nearly prepared for battle than was
the force to which 1 was attached
and which spent the winter of 1851
in southern waters, Admiral Wilson
testified Il feel sure that if this force
had engaged an enemy on its cruise
north in the spring of 1917. the victory
would have been ours.
Morale in the service was high at
that time the officer said and the ac-
tive fleet prepared for any emergency
Referring to Admiral Sims charge
that an insufficient number of small
vessels was sent abroad during the
first few months of American partlci-
patton in the war, Admiral Wilson de-
clared that at a conference between
Secretary Daniels and allied admiralty
representatives about April 10, 1917
the following officials did not express
any dire need for help or great urg-
ency for it," and suggested that the
United States take over the work OF
patroIling the waters adjacent to this
country and one representative sug-
gesed that the United States send 'one
destroyer abroad in order that the flag
may be shown TO let it be known that
the United States navy has actually
joined the naval forces of the allies :
7 believe that both representatives
fthose of France and Great Brittany
felt that they had successfully accom-
plished their mission; that they were
more than pleased with their reception
by the secretary Of the navy and were
especially impressed with the hearty
(No. 2-Continued on Page Two.)