The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-05-14
FORCED CABLE
USED BY SIMS
SENSATIONAL STATEMENT
MADE BY MIR. DANIELS
PersistentRumors That Discip-
plinaryAction WILDE TAX
en- Against Admiral

WASHINGTON, d. c.. May Ia
Secretary Daniels was told today OF
persistent rumors In washington to
the eject that disciplinary measures
had been ordered against Admiral
sims, elective a. soon as the senate
| tnvestig alton ended He denied tnat
he had issued any such orders and
said:
"Just now, 7 am presenting a case
before Q senate committee. I nave
had no ttmo to consider such O thing
and have NO further comment 70 oner
regarding It. will not even form
an opinion until all tho evidence 10
In"
WASHINGTON. May l3--Secretary
Daniels told the senate naval inrcstiSa-
ton committee that he had not signed a
cablcgram bearing what purportcd to be
his signature. which was among those
read TO the committee by Rear Admiral
Sims when the investigation began INC
orr ginal OF the message, Mr.. Danieis
said, did not show his signature. and he
added that his name had been forged 10
the COPY presented by Admiral Sims.
Mr., Daniels declared Admiral Sims IN
his statement had stressed the words'
signed. Daniels, Oh commenting on lne
message. and had said that it's purport
had made him feel like jumping over
board" -
The Oablsgram
The cablcRram concluded Win Nhe
sentence:
In regard to conveys. l consider that
American vessels having armed GUARDS
are safer when sailing independently
The original of the cable was founu
at the British embassy. through which
"A. +. Carter. by direction Of the CHIEF
Of naval operations" Mr.. Daniels told
the committee presenting photostatlc
copies OF the original dispatch. Hc
added that he had never held the opln-
ion set forth and knew as soon as Adj
miral Sims read the message 70 the
committee that he had not signed II.
Somewhere, somebody was guilty OF
signing my name TO an Official uis5
patch which the original here produces
shows l never signed" Mr.. Daniels said'
..or Of altering a dispatch by crasing the
real signature and substituting Dan,
icls.' I knew that if my name appeared
on such a telegram II would be because
somebody had forged my name TO It.
Demands Apology
Admiral Sims owed both the country
and himself an apology for the impress
sion conveyed by testimony based upon
u false signature. Mr.. Daniels sal1. ana
should produce the person who altered
the signature. ~
Much of Secretary Daniels testimony
TODAY was devoted 10 Admiral Sims
criticism of the departments troop CON
yoy methods The admiral. MIR. Danlcls
declared, perSlSlea III iS6"Se, 80
ships as more vital to the allied cause
than troop ships and took the att,tuae
that tho former should be protected. II
necessary, at the cost OF transports,
This attitude caused the depaFttmGiTIs FtnaiI,;
resulted in a blunt" admGnition that
the protection OF troop ships was the
navy's first mission. MIR, Danlels toiu
the committee he did not know that Ad-
miral Sims held such view until ire
officer testified recently before a court
of INQUIRY or he would have recalled the
officer from London. = %.-.,t,
Admiral Sims Attempts 10 discTeulI
the reports that the first American con,
vow was attacked by submarines were
in line with his ATTEMPTS to throw
doubt upon the entire conduct OF the
flrst convoy" the witness assertes' ~
ports OF Admiral GleaVes and the
there were submarines in the Vicinity
and that the convoy was attacked Tic
said.
The convoy system was orlglnail!
snonsoted by the American navy and
was not proposed by the British ana
held up until the navy department &C,
! ceptance could, be obtained. as. assorted
Admiral Sims ,SaS,eS saia SeGretnr ne,i set"rai
months after the United States entered
the war because 1t was necessary 10
wait until American vessels arrived
overseas before the system couiu oc
placed in effect. he said.
miraI Sims attempts TO give the Brit
ish most of the credit for carrying Am
erican troops overseas and protecting
them enroute." He declared that nearly
Nftv nercent Of Pershing's soldiers were
carried in American ships and that
more than eighty percent Of the pro-
tectinE forces were furnished ny inc
| United States navy.
"Thc British did carry a large numoer
o+ onr troops and deserve great credit
for H." said Mr.. Daniels. but 1t should
be remembered that they were paid lor
every man they carried.