The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-03-17
SIMS SAYS NAVAL
FORCES CRIPPLED
BY SMALL STAFF
Elaborate Charges Of lnetfiCi-
enCy in Department DlRing
Early Months Of Mar-HiS
Requests Ignored.

WASHINGTON. March r. Nearing
Inc end Of his long statement 10 the
senate invest igating committee, Rear
Admiral Sims today elaborated his
charges that the inadequacy Of his
staff abroad prevented for several
months maximum efficiency IN the
United States naval participation In tue
wAr, He testified that he Was unable
10 bring the navy department TO re-
Alization Of the importance o. his post
and the necessity for providing n large
staff at the outset to compile and digest
all allied naval information and direct
the early details Of American co-opera-
tion on the seas
Admiral Sims said he arrived IN Lon
don In April, 1917. with but one aid, and
Immediately realizing the magnitude Of
The task confronting him, cabled the
department requesting that three adj
ditional assistants be sent him at once
Before he received any reply he was
placed also in command OF the destroyer
force abroad. and ihereupon asked for
three more officers including a chief
az staff. expecting that the request
would be granted without question.
The last Of April one officer arrived
and vas assigned 10 the destroyer base
at Queenstown, Admiral Sims said, but
no word came from the department re-
garding his reiterated requests for ut
least six assistants Throughout June
ne remained In ignorance Of the depart
inent's plans and received no further
aid the officer said An American ell
Eihah who had resigned from the navy
III 1914 20 enter business In London,
volunteered TO assist him, the admiral
said and this man with his one aid
comprised his entire London staff.
MY staff then was wholly inadequate
even To code and decode messages to
and from the department" he con-
Fk9f Ia
vitality necessary information"
Limit Reached.
In June medical officer was or
dered to his staff the admiral said, and
about the same time Secretary Daniels
cahted him authority 70 employ clerical
assistance and spend any sums needed
for the discharge Of his duties, but
nothing was done regarding the off
GERS Ne had asked sent to assist him
III HIS technical duties.
iii repeated messages, Admiral Sims
said he urgently recommended that q
special officer he detailed 10 the Brit
Hi admiralty To CO. coordinate convoy
mans but never received an answer
Finally he detached the captain from
Il destroyer and assigned him 10 this
duty.
'We had reached the limit Of physical
endurance" Admiral Sims said We
were eSIApHhned IN TWO sHidA TuuihS ~
the embassy and dispatches were pour
mn in on Us every day I only Wish
that were capable Of describing the
conditions in my office at that time.
on July Capt n c. Twining was
detailed to be his chief OF staff, the
admiral said, and another officer was
sent to assist him AT this period, ne
sald. continual differences with the de-
unrtment were demonstrating the need
N closer llaison between his office and
washington. the admiral said due 70
his inability to send any reply to let
tiers and cablegrams,
throughout July he continually
warned the department that troop con-
VOWS were being endangered by lack of
nrnper assistance abroad. the admiral
sntd. and protested against the depart
rYassaf.s inclination to send him young
M Inexperienced officers and keep the
older ones In home waters.