Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-18
SIMS DESIRE WAS
A ''PRUSS|AN" NAVY,
!. DECLARES DANIELS
Says Motive of Admiral's
! Criticism Was to Over
come Civilian Control.
WANTED "RUBBER-STAMP
| SECRETARY" is CHARGE
Many Officers Planned Elimi-
nation of Cabinet Head,
He Asserts.
HAD MILITARY DICTATOR IDEA
Wished to Create General Staff OH
Lines OF Won Tirpitz
! Regime.
HAD MILITARY DIcTAToR IDEA
Wished to Create General Staff OH
Lines OF Won Tirpitz
Regime.
IRy Associated rress

WASHINGTON. May 17.-Desire
TO Prussianize tho Navy Depart-
ment" was asorhed by Secretary
Daniels today as one OF Rcar-Ad-
m!ral Sims underlying motives /,
cri;iciz!nE the departments conduct
OF the war Tho secretary, testify
ing before the Senate investigating
committee. also charged that most
or Inc testimony supporting Admi-
raj Sims position was from officers
VINO wished to remove civilian con-
troll or the Navy Department and
make the secretary rubber
stamp
The original charge showed
hostility to certain officers and a
desire to damage the ranking Of
hccrs who directed the operations
during the war" said Mr.. Daniels
speaking OF Admiral sims critical
letter OF January {. and the evil
dence has disclosed desire 10
misrePrcscnt tho Secretary of tho
Navy because he was not a rubber
stamp secretary. But deeper than
esotism and prejudice you will find
a decp-scatcd determination TO or
game tho Navy Department upon
tne approved Prussian plan by Civ
Ing all power to tho military and
taxing all away from The civilian"
Would Follow German Idea.
Mr. Daniels said f the committee
desired to raise tho general staff
issue he was willing to go to tha
country with it, II Congrcas apl
proved the plan. he declared, it
would create = general staff on the
Germaf model and namo son,o Won
Tirpitx to rule tho navy, make an
admiral secretary and member Of
tic Cabinet. and civilians incligibIe
for the post and put some Sims in
control OF the navy with nominal
civilian secretary as his clerk, mes
senEer and rubber stamp
Most of those who advocate this
radical departure seek to camou-
haEc their Prussian ideas" the sec
rotary said. They say they do
favor civilian secretary and have
no thought Of naval officer for
sccretary What they desire is
civilian rubber-stamp secretary.
with no power except 10 draw his
salary and sign here when the
military chieftains tell him where
TO af1iX his name"
Civilians Hnd Hard Struggle.
Mr.. Daniels asserted that all re-
cent secretaries had been confront
ed with n struggle to keep the navy
under civilian control and quoted
former Secretaries wellcs, Long
and Meyer and former Assistant
Secretary Darling to show the
strenuous efforts they found neces-
sary - put forth to keep authority
In the hands of the civilian secrs-
tary.
Mr.. Daniels reviewed his rela-
tions with Rcar-Admirals Fiske and
Fnllam. retired. formerly his aids.
Admiral Fiske. he asserted. "in
combination with six other subor-
dinato officers in tho department.
and member of Congress who was
former officer in the navy" un-
dertook "surreptitiously and secret
ly' TO impose his ideas as to duties
of the chief OF naval operations.
CriticIEcs Flrtc Liquidation.
admiral Fiskes surreptitious
legislation. had it passed." the Sec
retary added. would have put an
officer OF the navy in position
where nc would have had the power
and authority OF tho Prussian
chief of staff. Won Tirpitz and the
kaiser himself combined In one"
Mr.. Daniels devoted much OF ths
day TO review Of the work of
tho navy's supply system in the
war and to i extensive resume o.
the controversy that followed his
famous order banishing LIQUORS
from the officers mess.