Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-03-11
|CALL HOOVER
ITO SUPPORT
SIMS STORY
Admiral Says Ex-Food
Administrator Will
Back Statements.

Washington, March 11.-Herbert
Hoover will be called to testify In
the senate investigation Of the
navy's conduct Of the war.
Rear Admiral Sims told the In
quiry committee today that Mr..
Hoover had an intimate knowledge
Of the situation in Europe at the
time America entered the war. and
asked that he be summoned to sub
stantiate the admirals testimony
with regard to the gravity OF the
allies position at that time.
Sims Wants Proof.
Admiral Sims said he had receiv-
ed note from Mr.. Hoover saying
he would be here Saturday. and
Chairman Hale agreed to call
him on that day. Admiral
Sims said he would like to have
the former food administrator call
ed before he proceeded further in
order that there should be no
doubt in my mind that | have sub
stantiated the part of my letter in
which I described the gravity Of
the crisis which we faced in 1917
and pointed out how near to dis
aster the lack of action by the de-
partment at that time brought u.s."
THE allies, indeed, barely escap-
ed peace without victory" said
the admiral.
Continues Testimony.
Indications that the navy depart
ment withheld sending all available
American naval craft to European
waters early in the war because OF
desire to keep the main body OF
the nations sea strength intact for
possible eventualities were contain
ed in Admiral Sims testimony to-
day before the senate committee
investigating the naval conduct OF
the war. He read cablegram from
the navy department, dated July
| 10, 1917, containing an outline Of
the departments policy and declar-
| ing that while successful ter
miHation OF the present war must
I always be the first allied aim and
will probably will result in dimin-
ished tension throughout the world,
the future position of the United
I States must not be jeopardized by
an disintegration of our main fight
ing fleet"
The same cablegram. Admiral
Sims said, contained this state
Eent:
THE navy department announc-
es as its general plan of action the
following: Its willingness to send
its minor fighting forces in any
number not incompatible with home
need to any field of action deemed
advisable by the allied admiralty
council its unwillingness as mat
ter of policy to separate any divis-
ion from the main fleet for service
abroad, although it is willing to
send the entire battleship feet
abroad to act as united but CO.
operating unit when the emergency
is deemed to warrant H."
Three Months After Declaration.
With regard to this message and
statement OF policy Admiral Sims
said it was the "hrst dehnile state
ment of policy had received. ar
riVing iew Gays over tnree
months after we had declared war" !"
Inc astounding FEATURES OF this
policy were, however, that while it
stated our intention to cooperate to
the utmost degree. still such CO.
operation was conditioned first
upon an adequate delense OF our
own waters ana mex. upon tne iu-
lure posi'ioh vi lhe oni.eu states
al'er this war was hhisneu, sa,o
the admlrai. i am "noiiy unable
10 conceive OF any war poiicy pasea
upon the requirements Oh any Iu'
ture posslpie war.
A message received from the nav!