The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1920-05-20
FORGERY CHARGES
BY NAVAL CHIEF
DID NOT SIGN MESSAGE SAYS
DANIEL.
To Catcher All Evidence.
Says American Navy is Responsible
For Safety of Pershing's
Troops.

Washington, May 12.-Secretary
Daniels told the senate naval investi-
eating committee today that he had
not signed cablegram bearing what
purported to be his signature which
was among those read to the commit
tee by Rear Admiral Sims when the
investigation began. The original Of
the message, Mr.. Daniels said, did not
show his signature and he added that
his name had been forged to the copy
presented by Admiral Sims.
Mr.. Daniels declared Admiral Sims
in his statement had stressed the
words "signed Daniels" in comment
ing on the message, and had said that
it's purport had maze him feel like
Jumping overheard"
The cablegram concluded with the
sentence:
I'm regard to conveys, I consider
that American vessels having armed
guards are safer when sailing inde-
pendently."
Signed by Carter.
The original of the cable was found
at the British embassy through which
it was transmitted and was signed "a.
F. Carter, by direction of the chief Of
naval operations" Mr.. Daniels told
the committee, presenting photo
graphic copies of the original dis
patch
"Somewhere somebody was guilty
of signing my name to an official
document which the original here
produced shows I never signed" said
Mr.. Daniels, "or Of altering a dis
patch by erasing the real signature
and substituting Daniels I knew
that if my name appeared on such a
telegram it would be because some
body had forged my name to it"
Much of Secretary Daniels testi-
mony today was devoted to Admiral
Sims's criticisms of the departments
troop convoy methods. The admiral,
Mr.. Daniels declared, persisted in re-
garding cargo ships as more vital to
the Allied cause than troop ships and
took the attitude that the former
should be protected, if necessary at
the cost of transports. This attitude
caused the department much ankle
ty," he added, and finally resulted in
a 'Fblunt" admonition that the pro-
lection of troop ships was the navy's
first mission.
Would Have Recalled Sims.
Mr.. Daniels told the committee he
did not know that Admiral Sims held
such a view until the officer testified
recently before a court of inquiry, or
he would have recalled the officer
from London.
Admiral Sims's attempt to discredit
the reports that the first American
convoy was attacked by submarines
we're in line with his attempts to
throw doubt upon the entire conduct
of the first convoy" the witness as .
serted. Reports of Admiral Gleaves
and the French general staff left no
doubt that there were submarines in
the vicinity and that the convoy was
attacked, he said.
The Secretary took exception to Ad-
miral Sims's attempts to give the
British most of the credit for carry
ing American troops overseas and
protecting them en- route" He de-
clared that nearly so per cent Of
Pershing's soldiers were carried in
American ships and that more than
80 per cent of the protecting forces
we're furnished by the United States
navy.
Secretary Daniels was told today Of
persistent rumors in Washington that
disciplinary measures had been ord
cred against Admlral SlmS, eHecLlVo
as soon as the senate Investigation
ended. He denied that he had issued
any such orders and said:
"Just now I am presenting a case
before a senate committee. I have
had netime to consider such thing
and have no further comment to offer
regarding it. I will not even form an
opinion until all the evidence is in