The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-03-15
Sims Continues to Place Blame on
Navy Department for Manner the
German Commanders Learned of Naval
SailingS in Advance of Ship Departures


the first convoy OF American troop
ships sent to Franco because the
navy department used an unsafe code
which was intercepted and decipher-
cd, Rear Admiral Sims today told
the senate investigating committee.
Only a measure OF good luck"
brought the convoy safely to port,
the admiral said. and other troop.
ships and destroyers wcrc endanger-
cd through similar incidents early in
tie year.
THE announcement OF The sailing
Of tn" first American dcstroycrs was
printed in Berlin four days before
they arrived at Queenstown" de.
clarcd the officer.
Admiral Sims said he implored the
department not 20 send messages
regarding troop conveys in tie code
referred 70, but the warning was dis.
regarded. All the other allies ana
the enemy were using new wartime
lcdes, he said. while the tnitol
.statcs Continued 20 trust invaluable
Information to q code used fog many
years.
Information regarding conveys bound
for France WIS known in social cir
cles in parls before even General
Pershing vas Informed officially. Al.
mrul Sims asserted To illustrate
the widespread knowledge Of the plans
for the first convoy's departure. the
admiral testified that tho United
States naval attache at Paris, OBJ
TUNED his first word that troopships
were sailing from woman whose
huabcnd had received the inforna.
tlon in n business message.
ARRANGEMENTS for the carly convoy
were "confusinc." and dld not con-
form to the allies methods of safe
guarding troops in transit, Admiral
Sims said, and the navy department
made TO effort to consult him and
thus avail itself Of the experience Of
the allies in hlndling troopships.
Regulations for the conveys were
drawn up in the war and navy de-
p1rtmcnts and signed by President
Wilson. Secretaries Baker and Dan
iols, Gerordl Bliss and Admiral Ben
son on May o.. without reference to
him. Admiral Sims stated, ana ms
first l,no~lodgc OF these arrangements
camo when ha received copy OF the
regulations nearly five months later.
AS an illustration Of how com.
rletcly / was in the dark the Al.
m.ral said L believe information
from both the French and British ~
val authorities concerning the convoy
before / was officially Informed Of il
by the department.
Referring to message from Sec
>rotary Daniels dated June ., 1917,
marked very confidential" and con-
tainiug directions for the protection
Of the convoy by destroycrs. Admiral
Sims said it would be Impossible
to find n more striking example Of
the departments insistence upon max
ing decisions based upon complete
misnfornlation."
"T he whole scheme Of troop con
voy. outlined in this message, showed
a complete ignorance and disregard
oc convoy methcds ana Of war ex-
p-vienccs IN the submarine danger
zono,' he continued.
I'm response to his protests. the
admiral said he received 4 reply that
the department recognizes the sound
ncss OF your recommendations" but
be cause Of tine present sensitive pub.
lie opinion considers it essential that
the escort orders for the first convoy
already issued. be executed by Am
er,can destroyors." The admiral had
recommended. he testified, that the
conveys be protected by whatever
allied escorts were available. There
was no question at any time, Admiral
Sims. as TO whether troops should
get the very best protection available.
throughout the war" he added,
american troops received more pro
lection than the allies were able to
give their own troops on the high
seas"
On July 4, 1917, Admiral Sims slid
ne received = cable from Secretary
Daniels cougrLtulating him on the
srcccssful escort Of the convoy.
Il wish to make il perfectly clear
that | have no criticism to make OF
the commander Of the troop con
VOWS" he said. "Such confusion and
difficulties as arose We're due 10 or
dcrs and plans given him by the
navy department"
Admiral Sims expressed complete
accord with Secretary Daniels state
nent in cable TO him that "every'
thing is secondary to having n sut
ficlent number (of escortlng destroy
ers) to insure protection Of Ameri'
can troops" but declared that the
department, by going over his head
time after time, made it impossible
for him TO carry out the instructions
with entire efficiency.
Admiral Sims testified ate length
regarding disagreemcnts with the de-
partment on plans to meet enemy
raids on conveys, possible German
battle cruiser raids in the Atlantic
and what he called the departments
-royul road to victory" by blockad-
ing German ports or similar meas
nres.