The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-04-08
ADM. wilson
CONTRADICTS
Sims WHOLLY
Preparation and Spirit Of
Navy for War Were Mag
nificent, He Declares-Says
Department Did Splendid.
ALLIES WERE SATISFIED
(By Associated Press)

(By Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, April S-The yes
sells on the active list of the navy were
never better prepared for war than
when the United States joined the al.
lies. and the navy department had
full and complete" plans to combat
a German offensive against the coasts
OF the United States, Admiral H. B.
Wilson today told the senate commit
tee Investigating the navy depart
ments conduct Of the world war.
Replying to criticisms in the letter
from Rear Admiral Sims to Secretary
Daniels that caused the investigation,
Admiral Wilson asserted that from
the moment war was declared the en-
tire navy-the department as well as
the fleet-entered into the prosecution
of the war with the greatest energy
and it's accomplishments deserve the
commendation of the nation"
,A@-Niral Wilson, now commander-in-
lie Of the Atlantic fleet, command
ed the patrol force that first protect
ed waters adjacent to the United
States and later, based on Brest,
France. cooperated in protecting allied
conveys in the war zone and hunting
U boats.
Took Only Four Days
Within four days after this country
entered the war representative of the
allied admiralties were in conference
with Secretary Daniels and naval Of
ficers in Washington, outlining the
means by which the most effective as
sistance could be rendered by this
country, the witness declared. So far
as he knew, Admiral Wilson said,
every suggestion or proposition put
forward by the allied officials was
promptly agreed to and efficiently
carried out.
The fact that the greater part Of
the American army was transported
over 5000 miles Of water without
life being lost through efforts of the
enemy testified to the success Of this
cooperation, the admiral asserted.
Our naval forces from the start
co-operated in most successful man
ner with the naval forces Of our as
sociates in many portions of the SEAS"
Admiral Wilson declared. by their
splendid and efficient work they ma
terially aided in shortening the war
and in this manner saving untold life
and property
Mistakes Were Unmportant
Mistakes the navy made during the
war were so relatively unimportant"
that they were hardly worth consider
ing in comparison with its achieve
ments the witness said.
No nation upon the approach Of
war has had a force of battleships
more nearly prepared for battle than
the force to which l was attached
and which spent the winter of 1867
in southern waters" Admiral Wilson
testified. II feel sure that if this
force had engaged an enemy on it's
cruise north in the spring of 1917, the
victory would have been ours"
Morale in the service was high at
that time, the officer said, and the
active fleet prepared for any emerg-
enCy
Allies Didn't Need Help.
Referring to Admiral Sims charge
that an insufficient number of small
vessels was sent abroad during the
first few months of American partici
patton in the war, Admiral Wilson de-
clared that at a conference between
Secretary Daniels and allied admiralty
representatives about April 10. 1917, |
the foreign officials did not express
any dire need for help or great
for it," and suggested that the
United States take over the work of !
patrolling the waters adjacent to this
country. and one representative sug- !
gested that the United States send
"One destroyer abroad in order that
the flag may be shown to let il be
l;nown that the United States navv
has actually Joined the naval forces
of the allies"
Il fully believe that both representa-.
tives tthose of France and Great Brit
AIM felt that they had successfully
accomplished their mission; that they
were more than pleased with their re- !
ception by the secretary of the navv.
and were especially pleased with the
hearty manner in which the rcsDon-
sible officers Of the navy department
had shown their desire to cooperate
and thus further the cause against the
common enemy" declared Admiral
Wilson.
Reads Prepared Statement.
The admiral read a long statement |
he prepared in August. 1918, for mem
hers of the house naval committee
then in France. to show the degree of
american cooperation with the allies
IL that time and it's SucceSS