The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-05-14
THROWING LIGHT ON
AMERICAS CONDUCT
DURING THE WAR
BY DAVID nAwRENC1,
icopyxigat BY The IntslltS sacsr.)

WASHINGTON. D. c., May l3.-Some
thing more important than the mere re-
futation Of Admiral Sims charges that
the American navy did not do it's proper
share in tho early stages OF the war,
something more than a controversy over
war honors, is behind the revelations
being made BY Secretary PANEL Daniels with
The administration has long smarted
under the criticism that II pussy
footed" during tho war. that 1t slowed
up" and that it hesitated to make pig
might shorten the war. Even as the
President was endeaVorinS to answer
tho final plea of the Germans ior an
armlstice, he was being criticized by po.
ltical orators on the ground that nc
wanted to make a soft peace. II VIII
be remembered that unconditional sur
render clubs" were organized 10 oltSe'
thus supposed weakness OF the Fresi-
dent.
throughout It all. MIR. Wilson has
maintained secrecy. Many people IN the
capital knew. for instance, that he maae
that fghting speech aboard the patile,
ship Pennsylvania before the assemoieo
officers of the Atlantic fleet. The White
House was implored by newspapermen
TO permit the publication OF that ao,
dress. It was contended that ~ "ouIo
do a great deal toward enthusing the
American peOplS-OuI ltlG
fused II was evident however that the
freedom with which he had critlclzeo
tho British navy was the fundameh'a'
reason. ,,, -.
those remarks might mean disSensior
, among the allied powers and might give
comfort to the enemy.
But there are dozens OF documentS
Just like the one Secretary DanleiS nas
lust made public which throw light on
how America conducted the war. Con-
xress has seen tit to probe expenditures
and given an impression that the gov
ernment was eAtravaSant ana "as'eAu'
Tn Answer Charges
Tho administration has made no an
swer. But as the political campaign ap-
proaches there viii be many answers,
Charges that money was Waste1aiIy
spent will be refuted by lifting Ihe ven
on the entire management OF tne war.
II will be found. for instance that the
allies were In Enuch, more, desperate
straits than the world generally knew.
IL will be disclosed that their aPpeais
To the President were answered one
after the other with a spirit that tnrew
"nrodence 10 the winds" The perilous
situation Of the allies influenced goSu
many hasty actions on the part OF Ihe
American government %hien NC o,nent. nents
would have been sanctioned IN moments
of calm elaboration.
The controversy between the Ameri'
can and British navies continuea lVa
many months. The Sims episode IS onIS
ono Of a number. Again and again tne
two navies were arguing how the war
should be fought. The British had ap.
peared content to tight detens!ve Tai a
on the seas. President wilson was IN,
sisting always on an offensive even
.hongS n meant concentrating the en-
tire fleets OF the allies and making
aid and landing on the German coast
The Presidents idea of shortening tnt
war was to combine the allied torse
hal WeAnOn. lie "a
vocated the same kind OF tactics on
land. He believed In Marshal Focn
from the flrst. He didn't hesitate 70 aP,
prove the request for the briEadinS o.
American troops with British or French
doing something In that connsction IN.
cidentally which amazed the European
nations for Mr.. Wilson didn't reVeai any
national sensitiveness such as mad trou'
bled the British and French govern
ments in handling their military men.
sims Pro-Bxtttsh
There may be a good deal Of political
mud-slinginE thls year but OF one tnln
the public can rest assured me sS 40,
Nnericon war record to be beclouded
Admiral Sims started something wher
ne began his criticism of the navy de-
Of the United States navy who were or
the other side took issue with him. II
- not a personal controversy. II Is
really a difference between the Ameri'
can and the brlIlSu way "a BOth6 o. SHs
war. At this end It was suspected tnal
Admiral Sims became saturated with
the British viewpoint.
or course II had been charged, par
ticularly by the friends OF Irish free
dom, that President Wilson was thor
ouKhly English" and that ne was con
stantiy under British influence. The
covenant of the league OF nations has
been denounced as "Wilson-Brittsh. II
would not be surprising therefore II the
administration took the public into IT.
confidence on some or the troubles y
had with the British during the war. Oh
French and so did tho Americans. Al
lies never can harmonize in war time
The selection Of a general-tssimo anc
the stabllshment Of unity OF command
on land as well as water developed be-
cause of this friction.
But little has been said about tn
land operations OF the United States
There Is much to be made public JUS
as interesting as the messages tina
passed between the American and Brit
ish navies General Pershing could tel
some interesting stories about hi:
trouble with the commanders OF othe
armies II Major General Wood be
comes the nominee Of tho Republican
party. and any considerable part OF tn
campaign Is devoted to criticism OF thu
Wv tSo administration, conducted th'
war or to a criticism Of the adminisara
tion FOR not sending General Wood Il
france. the neSt series OF revelation!
ran he sxpected The Sims controvers,
has merely started something which th'
aaxninIEt ration Is belligerently takinl
edyantaRe OF to answer its critics.