The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-01-22
FILLIBUSTER HALTS PROBE
,..,bcock and Other Democrats
nlc, nnnose Republican Counsel
0fr IN Naval Awards Case.
,rCIrSATIONS POINTED
c..,roversy Was First Started
yr' n Senate by Resolution of
" walsh Criticising Sims.

,..,rtoy Ian. 21.-In conducting
"'-....f,,1 filbuster today against a
'oe.t-, authorizing the senate sub
'l:..os investigating decorations to
ann. M r,unsed, Senator Hitchcock,
NJ nf Nebraska, charged repub-
Win employing republican party
- as counsel in trying to develop
-. fact that could be used in a par
4 sn manner.
n ,,,.,fr,nan Hane interrupted the de-
~. T., saw it was evidently a filibus-
B ~ was in progress and he would with
-,. -Ae motion for immediate vote.
will probably come up again tomor-
The controversy first reached the
.sre.a today when Walsh, democrat
. Montana introduced a resolution
,r.,.ziDg Rear Admiral Sims for laying
II ,f,ra the world during his recent tes-
mory before the committee, 'Tntsruc-
ans af most confidential nature"
,esr short debate on the objection
rra Senator Lodge of Massachusett,
he resolution went over.
Rear Admiral Grant told the COM
r.rtee today that contrary to popular
sHef Thomas a. Edison had but little
d do with the perfection of subma
gc detecting devices during the war.
rant said two young officers on his
aff. Commander c. c. Mcdowell and
!eutcnant Commander Miles Libbey
.era largely responsible for develop
ent of the apparatus. He said he
commended them for navy crosses
De they did not get them.
The resolution declaring that the
tion of Rear Admiral Sims in max
z public official instructions of the
ost confidential character" affect
Hg international relations, deserved the
Of all Americans, was
troduced in the senate today by
senator Walsh, democrat of Montana,
member of the naval committee. His
quest for immediate consideration
as denied on objection of republican
ader Lodge.
The resolution quoted from the letter
cad by Admiral Sims before the SEN
Re committee investigating naval deco |
tons in which the admiral said that l
store he left the United States for /
europe in March, 1917, he was told by /
naval official not to let the British /
ull the wool over your eyes; it is none |
our business pulling their chestnuts |
Ut Of the fire; we would as soon fight /
he British as the Germans" Admiral I
Sims must have and did consider these !
Instructions, if they ever were given, !
10 be of the most highly confidential |
aaracJer, the resolution says, adding |
.ha; his action in making them public /
deserved universal and unqualified dis |
|sDproyaL
I cannot but believe that whether !
DE above admonition was or was not /
gwen TO Admiral Sims the disclosure |
under almost any circumstances must !
receive the disapproval of every Ameri- |
an said Senator Walsh. !
Senator Mccormick, republican of /
Illinois declared the resolution affected |
matter that was to be later investi- !
gated by a sub committee and Senator
-oas5 objected to consideration of the /
resolution on the ground that it con-
-iaa1 grave charges against one of the /
most prominent officers in the Ameri-
@a navy without giving him an OPP /
f.gRltE 10 defend himself.
replying to an inquiry by Senator |
-"-i' IE tiNtAlCdIiy OIL lCdHOp wH6iIlST
4lnlral Sims volunteered his letter, |
2rnaan Hale. of the decorations
~s-gommilJee said:
The admiral produced it because 1 !
-s-s'ed and l am entirely willing to
90 all responsibility''
Deear.gg Admiral Sims could not |
-e-t II the committee ordered the !
"I production, Senator Borah said |
-4"agat The senate was making
'salain out of a mole hill in this en-
liz affair" /
'.@ warning given to Admiral Sims /
.'-S. letting the British pull the
''~ over mis- eyes was approved by
-s-'E lorah who said the official I
s-"7 81 should be commended.
'pat find anything to censure
7. secretary Daniels or the ad- |
-a. said Mr.. Borah. 1T was a very
''e1 admonition and 1 regret the
.7-'1E has denied it."
''Saf. Walsh said the whole ques-
- vas 'Fer disclosure of confidential /
Il ny the admiral and Senator
-.as- democrat, of Colorado, said
49, 10 hIm there was gross vio-
'- somebody's confidence
ss Pheian, democrat of Califor-
--3~.'ed whether the committees
h. S@,.on proposed to consider CEN
,r. ~ admiral Sims if he acted i'm
L. ' ana Senator Hale replied that
.s,s. Iieid would be covered, in
.,4s general investigation of the
ugsr .' The war in connection with
wa. matters.