The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1920-02-11
SIMS DENIES
BEL|TTLINC u. S.
He COntTadiCts Congressman
ByrReS' Report.
LATTER REPEATS STORY
Declares Conversation With Admiral
in Paris Left Impression American
Army Had Broken Down.

Washington, Feb. 1l.-Rear Admiral
William :. Sims denied before the SEN
ale committee investigating naval
awards that in converse lion with Rep
Carolina, and other members of con-
greSS he had sought to belittle Amer
ica'S efforts in he war.
The admiral said Mr.. Byrnes must
either have misunderstood me or con-
fused the remarks made to him by the
many people he talked to in Europe"
He added that he did attempt 20 cor
rect the idea in the minds Of Ameri-
can visitors that the United States
forces were winning the war, because
allies"
They knew it was not true" Ad-
miral Sims declared.
Il am surprised that I should be
quoted as saying the merchant marine
should be left to Great Britain and
the United States should not develop
q merchant marine" he continued, "be-
cause l never held any opinion on that
subject"
Senator Pittman, Democrat, Nevada,
declared that Admiral Sims had left
the same impression in the minds of
former Secretary of the Treasury
Glass and Representative Whaley,
Democrat, South Carolina, in CONVEX
sations with them abroad, and asked
that they be called to testify before
the Subcommittee.
Representative Byrnes reiterated
that Rear Admiral Sims in a CONVEX
sation with him in Paris had sought
to belittle Americas contribution 70
the victory over Germany. Mr..
Brynes said he reported the CONVEX
sation and the circumstances attend
ing it to President Wilson just before
the president left for France in De
cenber, 1918, to attend the peace con-
ference
Representative ByrneS said Admiral
Sims told him and Carter Glass, then
representative from Virginia, and Rep
resentative Whaley. Of Scum Caro-
lima, that the allies had been forced
to an armistice by the failure of the
American army to break through. This
failure, Byrnes quoted Sims as saying
was due to breakdown of the Amer
lean supply service.
The witness said he and the other
two representative left the admiral's
room with a feeling Of depression and
Encouragement"
1--WE went back and discussed the
gravity of the situation and the seri
Gus import of the information given us
by the admiral" continued Mr.. Byrnes
"and we then determined TO visit the
headquarters of the o S and learn
from General Harbord and his Off
GERS the details of the disaster thai
had befallen the American army. We
thought it must get back to America
and become a national scandal"
Representative Byrnes said that
Representative Whaley and he ther
visited the headquarters Of the S o s
and there learned that Admiral Sims
statements regarding the breakdown
of the army were incorrect and thai
General Pershing had only recently
complimented the supply service fol
efficiency.
When he returned to the United
States, Byrnes continued, he made 9
personal report of Admiral Sims
statements to President Wilson, sc
that the president, who then was pre-
pairing to go to Paris 70 attend the
peace conference, might be safeguard
ed against information of the nature
| contained in the admirars statement
Admiral Sims testified briefly follow
ing Senator Glass. Reaffirming hi:
previous statement regarding his con
versation with the congressman, the
admiral said he was sorry that thu
visitors had not derived the impress
sion that he wished to convey, namely
that he desired to keep them from
taking transformation back to the
United States.
"If you gentlemen believed all the
things you say said, all of you ne
elected your duty in not putting up 6
howl to get me out Of there" sale
Admiral Sims, turning to Senator
Glass and Representative Byrnes.
you have no quarrel with me-
said Representative Byrnes. II re
ported 20 the president, and 1t wal
Bis quarrel, not mins.@
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