New Britain herald., 1920-03-22
SIMS NAMES BENS0|
 IN NAVAL SQUABBl
Says It Was He Who War
 Against Great Britain

Washington, March 22.-Rear
 mIral William $. Benson, then e
 of naval operations was the off5
 who told Rear Admiral Sims "no
 let the British pull the wool over \
 eyes; we would as soon fight then
 the Germans" Admiral Sims test]
 today before the senate committed
 VestIsating the navy's conduct of
 war.
 Admiral Sims said the remark
 made just after he had receiyedl
 final instructions from Secretary ii Iels preparatory to his departure|
 England on the eve of the entri
 the United States into the war.
 added, however, that it was not n|
 ill the course of formal instruct| but during q conversation in the d of Rear Admiral Palmer, chief ofl bureau of navigation. Admonition Repeated. The witness told the oomm| that Admiral Benson repeated his monltlon during a conversation following day and he made the s3 remarks six months later in Lon Admiral Sims said he did not particular attention to the stateI at the time because he believed miral Benson was inensely anti- ish. He added that this belief entertained generally throughout service.
 
 tion to the remark, the admiral
 and Admiral Palmer also told that ne remembered hearing Adj 1 Benson make the statement. Tells Whole Story. The witness was reluctant to the name of the officer but Chai Hale insisted.
 Then r will tell you the 1 story,' said Admiral Sims. t"EaI April, 1917, I was ordered from post at Newport to Washington. ! I arrived I reported to the nav, partm ent by telephone and was not to come 10 the department b get in touch with the chief o4 bureau of navigation, Rear Ad Leigh c. Palmer. Everything very secret the way they liked could not get in touch with the of navigation then and so I rep i to him later at the depa rum en then had an interview with tIi< 1 retary of navy in his office N ] else was present, as I emembe l The interview was very brief { told that was going abroad to | Ixrifh tho l 1 that Ambassador Page had reur
 that an officer of high rank be
 there for that purpose. After
 ing Secretary Daniels office, oJ ! before going there, I don't rem4 ! which, I went to the bureau of 1 gation. Tine admiral was ther l it was at that time that the re l the chairman has asked me abou ] made"
 l Whom do you refer to as 'th 1 miraP ?'' asked Chairman Hale Praises Benson As Man. l Admiral Sims said he did not to indulge in personalities but ! pressed by Chairman Hale he sd 1 referred to Admiral Benson. ] Admiral Sims said he include i miral Bensons remark in his let 1 Secretary Daniels on January 1 garding the navy's part in tn 1 because Eff a man has a pre- | against men fighting aIen sside 1 it has an unconscious infiueno 1 him."
 The admiral told the commit l had always regarded the ad1nd ] as "a personal prejudice on tn ] of Admiral Benson" He des 1 the former chief of operations 1 upstanding, honest man, who 1 strong convictions, and added Flieved everything that Admira
 son did during the war was
 ''conscientiously."
 1 It was due largely to Adnaira 1 sons confidence in him that f ] selected to the high post he oc l during the war, Admiral Sims l adding that in urging his SC ] Admiral Benson incurred the I of many officers senior to A l Sims who desired the post. Always Fair and Square. 1 Senator Pittman, democrat, N 1 asked if in view of the anti ! sentiments. Of Admiral Benson ] officer had not acted in a 1 minded way in sending Admira l to London.
 The witness replied that Al l Benson had always been "fai /! square"
 l Senator Putnam brought oJ ! Admiral Sims had shown ;a c 1 his letter of January : to H. P ] son of New York while he l guest at Mr. Davison's home | the middle of January The l could not recall the date bt ! his aide thought it was on J 1 IA. He admitted that showl 1 letter was "an indiScretion."