The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-03-22
BENSON TOLD SIMS
TO WATCH BRITISH
Admiral Reveals Identity OF o.
fetal Who Warned Him at
Outset OF War.
Continued from First Pase)


son. I received no instructions. The
advice was not preceded by any con.
cersation with Admiral Benson, ana
was not followed by any. lie simply
made the remark.
Later In London, he respected TINS
remark. Six months later in Paris.
he made the same statement. ! had
completely forgotten these state
ments. but was reminded OF them by
an aide. ! did not mean to go into
personalities, but attributed Nd
miral Benson's remarks to personal
prejudices against the British
Prejudice Against Bvitish.
Admiral Sims said that Admiral
Benson Is known to be prejudiced
against the British, and said that he
attributed his advice to this attitude.
and thought that there was nothing
personal in 1t.
lie pointed out that he owed his
position as commander Of the naval
forces on the other side to Admiral
Benson. and that the latter had
brought down criticism on himself by
appointing Admiral Sims over the
heads OF other Officers.
He said that he had mentioned tho
thought that it showed the state OF
affairs that existed at that moment.
and was an important link in connect
ing up the different details that be.
longed to the situation.
Admiral Sims emphs sized his reluc-
lance To bring thu "wool-pulling"
statement out. but pointed out that
1.-THE will to victory is one OF the
most essential things in war
Helped Sims Attain Post.
~ mentioned that incident TO show
what the situation was. | do not
feel that II contributed TO success to
have an officer entertain these feel
ings against nation fighting with
us" Sims said.
He did not say who told him chat
we would as leave night the British
as the Germans"
Sims repeated his statement that he
felt Admiral Bcnson's anti-British
statements we're "due to personal
idiosyncracies.'
Sims credited Benson with having
helped him to his post as naval com
mandcr in London.
In describing how he came to be
named as com nander OF naval forces
in the war zone, Sims said his APP
pointment was at the request of Am
bassador Page in London that an Of
tcer OF a higher rank than rear ad-
miral be detailed, as all other allied
officers representing their govern
ments held higher rank"
Pittman and HnIe Clash.
Senator Pittman OF Nevada was In
terrupted in his ton OF
Sims several times by Chairman Hale.
of the Naval Affairs subcommittee.
~
Hale and said:
Il realized this morning that YOU
were going. to try to break up this
hearing. but it is not going TO be
done"
Senator Hale thereupon gave up his
efforts to shield Sims, and the quiz
zing continued.
Senator Pittman sought to find out
how Sims letters came to be made
public and whether Sims made his
letters public himself
Sims denied any definite knowledge
as to how his letters came into the
hands of newspaper men.
Sims Not "spring Chicken"
81 am no spring chicken in this
business" Sims declared. II went
into this business knowing that was
putting my head into it. carried
that letter with me constantly"
Pittman scored Sims and asked him
II he thought ii was proper to make
public letter which disclosed conf
Dental matters.
1T was not confidential" Sims re-
Piled heatedly. And as for my atti-
tude in the matter, | will say that
We naval officers have made up our
minds that we will never go into
another war as we went into this
one"
score or more Of Washington
society women. including naval Off
GERS wives, broke into applause.
which Sims hushed by raising his
hand.