Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-03-10
FOR NAvrS GOOD
Main Purpose Charges
Against Dept.
Admiral SIMS Tells Se,are Commit
-ee-SeTers Specifically 20 Gnpre-
sarec,ess During First SIX Morrrs
~ israkss Snouc Be Carefully
Reviewed

Washington. March A-1r--;-
SIMS. II an opening statement -Oday
before the senate cornl1-ae InvesE-
eating rs charges ma the nav
department failed 70 cooperate fully
WIN the allies during the war, 0u--
.aed -ne specie points on winch ne
hassd MS c--1rlcIsEns ana promised
-ha- beginning -omO--cw ne would
present evidence II support Of eacn
Contention.
IN opening E-s -es-Inorr- A1IIl---aAi
SIMS aanIec .utar2or Of initiating
al a1-ack OF -ae par -ae nay piaE-
&C II Lce war, or If 0e-ll---1Zig IL 81
zor-s as ne was unable adeCUa-ely
ID express MS adnl-auon for ne
nzr-r's .4E3r--s Els c-iucisrns. ne
sa1G. we're directed Z. the policies z
ms 1-sr SIX months Of ms cn1---l c.
The admiral told the COMMITTED ne
was not aiming MS a--ack a. md
vIcuaIs anG reiterated that II call
ing attention 70 what ne considered
failure Of rhe navy department -
give ne r+tIes tir!4 v1cr5s--xesuzs n
first. NJ had nothing 20 gan and
s=yerv-r1ng n lose" Instead cC+F d
nigh sense OF his duTy as nava-
officer 4ac snliCI-ade for ne future
aava. police Of Lne coUnc-y. ne Sale
1uDeIlaG rim ID point Ou- grave MIS-
-allt.s n nava admins rGlor-
Basic criticisms Of the uavy's poll
rias were sad by me aducA ID Dc
That during ne ea-,v period of me
var the department v1OIaIsc 1unca-
ner-al primo pies ~ warfare lead
ing 10 Z proiongaClon Of nost1-1rlt.s
and needless loss o. lives anc
money
MA the policies Of M department
n ne las- naIf Of ne VA were lden-
-ica. win Recommendations -sJec1ac
during -ae H-s- SIX months
--7-a7 : he d.Da----1.rt mad proper
mans wren ne nalan entered -ae
war -Aez should have been placed II
eEec- a. once.
Tina mistakes. = a-v. wa-e MADE
should Ne carefully reviewed 70 avolo
n future recurrence and 10 nelp mold
future na-iona policies.
The Tr.-ed States entered ne wa
with the navy L;-,7~epa~eG NJ sa-o al
though war haG oeen q pOssiollt-v 10Y
rwo raare and American forces on
the sea were not II me highest state
Of readiness.
Owing - these conditions. lach Of
proper organi Zalon II rne navy de-
pa-rrnenr and because u other fac
rurs with which he was not familiar
Il failed for a. ieas- SIX months 10
throw lis full force against -hc
enemy
During this period We PURSUED d
policy Of vaciliarI0n Or a hand 70
mouth police" re declared, 'a--erpt-
ing 70 formulate or plans from day
q aar based or an INCORRECT appre-
citation Of the solution.
Eefe--lrE tn the -ace-- usvaI
ciecora Mons inuuirv nf which the
present investigation is al out
growth. the admiral said Chere ex-
ISIS. what The naval service believes
70 ~ q deliberate campaign IF prop
aranda" aimed a. p-eJuGIclng the
case by bringing II wholly I--eva-
liant" subjects. as al example. ne
said. Eis views on rhe fitness OF Ad-
n;raI Henry 3. Wilson - ne com
nander II chef Of the Atlantic feet
had been brought IT. personal CORES
pnndence from him 70 the department
On the sublecr introduced and ar
c1ITrIs Of mis- remarks WIFI regard n
Admiral wilson broadcastaG by nav
wireless 10 every ship and naval sta
Llon.
IF rhe method Cf making nnrat
awards dId not a.eC: the morale n
the navy tins instance was certainly
calculated u DO y" ne added This
was q manifest outrage aEa1ns1 the
ef,icienev II the feet and against Ad-
mira wilson himself as well as
against The present Investigation Of
important issues Of national defense. :"