Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1920-01-20
Secretary Daniels Says
Admiral Was Overruled
Often on Advice of
Superior.
High Critic of Navy Is
to Be Held to Account
and Must Prove All He
Charged, Is Word.

/! Washington. Jan. 19-Complete in
| vestigation of Rear Admiral Sims
charges made against the navy depart
ments conduct of the war will be made
By subcommittee now inquiring into
the award Of naval decorations as soon
as it completes its present task. This
decision was made today by the full
senate naval committee.
A motion by Senator Pittman demo
crat. Nevada. to have a separate sub
committee to make an immediate in
yestigation was defeated The motion
to have the present sub committee to
conduct the inquiry was made by
Senator Walsh, democrat, Montana.
Says Sims Often Ciashed.
Action followed declaration by Sec
retarr Daniels. that unless the senate
investigation of Rear Admiral Sims
charges OF failure of the navy depart
ment to cooperate fully with the allies
during the war is made to the entire
satisfaction Of the American people, al.
inquiry will be made by naval board.
lie added that mo organiza ton in the
history of the world ever did a better
job than the American navy"
While refusing to discuss Admiral
Sims letter Of criticism of the depart
nent, Mr.. Daniels indicated the Admiral
frequently clashed with the department
through his insistence that more de-
stroyers be withdrawn from troop
conveys to augment the anti-submarine
forces in European waters.
Duty Was to Guard Transports.
The paramount duty of the American
~ ay~r- Nv ~ i
protect the passage of American troops
to Europe, and the safeguarding Of
merchant shipping, vital as that was
recognized to be, necessarily was
secondary"
Secretary Daniels emphasized that.
contrary to popular impression, Admiral
Sims throughout the war was subord-
nate to Admiral Mayo. eommander-in-
chief Of the Atlantic fleet He indicated
that. on the question of the distribution
of destroyer strength as well as on
other questions. Admiral Sims was over
ruled by Admiral Mayo as well as the
department.
Decorations Probe to Be First.
Every naval order, every document
bearing on the navy's war activities"
Mr.. Daniels continued, is open to the
light of day, and the more thoroughly
tliI titiIS Fttbisi Is idIu bpIDFP the Dp0Dtf
of this country. the greater the pride
they can have in the achievements of
their navy. The country will be on
tireiv rcassured when matters are
brought to showdown"
Secretary Daniels said that in the first
summer Of the war Admiral Sims was
given the title Of commander of the
United States naval forces in European
waters but that. as Il matter OF fact,
MS duties were not afloat."
The business of Read Admiral Sims
was to obey orders declared the secre-
tary. His duties were to make recon-
mendations and give the government in
formation and all facts and then carry
instructions from the department. This
country and the world know already that
the job Of the navy was very we'll done.
Whether III twenty seventh of June or
the twenty seventh of July, or some
particular date we should or should not
have sent so many destroyprs to
certain place or whether they could be
made ready at that time or whether it
was important to retain some to protect
our coasts. were. of course, matters of
naval strategy. There may be differences
Of opinion between naval officers as to
these matters. but there is nothing about
this big job the navy did that | am not
only willing but glad and happy for all
tut Peopic III hIueFlca TO KNOW ABOUT.
Goine Full Capacity.
There was not time during the war
when we did not do everything we pos
sibly could to increase naval effort and
idd naval craft to fight submarines and
protect our troops. We ordered go
lestroyers and there was not minute
Turing the war that work was not press
q to the full capacity of the country.
We wanted every spare minute that was
it for use, We utilized the navy yards. |
Every private yard Everything Mas
strained almost to the breaking point to
lasten things.
Sims Must Prove All.
Read Admiral Sims must be reuilired |
Q establish every criticism he has made |
# the department
Il have been secretary of the navy
low nearly seven years and l have never
lad any trouble at all since ! have
'een here, but sometimes some rear ad-
niral has broken out think about two,
ut ! never had any controversy with
he first one. When the smoke blows
way | have no doubt that the public
rlll see that the naval administers
as been efficient.
Chairman Hale said the committee
ouid not complete its investigation of
naval decorations in less than ten days
md that the inquiry of Admiral Sims
harges would not be undertaken until
he committee had made it's report on
he matter now under consideration.
The inquiry into naval awards was
esumed after the meeting of the full
ommlttee adjourned. Admiral Sims was
CONTINUED on Pare TwOD