Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-03-18
M|SINDICTS
navy HEADS
ON 13C0UNTS
Purpose, He Says, to Show
Faults as Lesson for
the Future.

Washington, March Is. - Ap-
preaching the conclusion Of his long
arraignment of the navy depart
ment's conduct of the war, Rear
Admiral Sims laid before the SEN
ate investigating committee today
1S specific counts in his indict-
ment charging mistakes and cost
ly delays.
Reiterating his declal -tion that
his criticisms were aimed at no in
dividual, but that responsibility
for any failures" rested upon "the
navy department as an organiza-
ton" Admiral Sims said:
"If l have shown that there was
lack of conviction or clear under
standing on the part of the navy
department as to where its effects
should be directed then 1 will feel
that 1 have been fully justified in
submitting my letter Ito Secretary
Daniels) Of Jan. T."
Not Ready for War.
The admiral's summary of his
charges follow:
THAT, in spite of the fact that
war had been going on for nearly
three years, the vessels of the navy
were not ready for war service
when the United States entered.
THAT the first few months after
America entered the war were ex-
tremely critical ones for the whole
allied cause, due to enemy subma-
rine success.
THAT this critical situation was
made clear to the navy depart
ment few days after America en-
tered the war. and repeatedly
thereafter by cables and letters.
supported by independent advices
from the American ambassador in
London and by Mr.. Hoover.
THAT the navy department SUP
piled me with no plans or policy
for three months after our entry
therein. f.
Prolonged War.
''That the navy department did
not promptly assist the allies. and
thereby prolonged the war by de-
laying the sending of anti-subma-
rine vessels, none reaching Eu-
rope for nearly month after war
was declared.
THAT the navy department failed
to appreciate the military value Of
time.
THAT the navy department vio-
lated the fundamental military
principles in attempting to formu-
late war plans of operation without
having sufficient knowledge of the
whole situation.
THAT the departments repre-
sentative with the allied admiral
ties was not supported either by
adequate personnel or by adequate
forces.
Violated Good Tactics.
THAT the navy department vio-
lated fundamental military princi-
pies in dispensing forces away
from the critical area in order to
meet diversions of the enemy.
THAT the navy department, in
the first months of the war, at
tempted the direction of details al
though 5000 miles distant from the
scene of active operations, where
the situation was changing from
day to day.
THAT the navy department, in
not clearly defining the RESPONSE
bility and delegating authority to
its representative in Europe failed
to follow sound principles, COM
mon alike to business and military
professions.
THAT the navy department by
controlling the operations and
movements of certain forces with
in the war area, violated the fund
amental military principles of
unity Of command.
THAT the navy department fail
ed to keep its representative abroad
completely informed as to its
plans affecting dispatch and dis
position of forces in the war zone
and frequently reached decisions
in such matters through informa-
tion gained from sources other
than its representatives in the war
zone"
Really Did Good Work.
Admiral Sims said he was not
insensible to .''the splendid work
done by the navy at large or the
various bureaus and other Offices
of the navy department"
His statements we're directed "al-
most entirely" to pointing out de-
fects in the administration of the
navy department during the first
few months Of the war, he said.
ANTI-BO BOISHEVIK