New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-03-23
Benson Warned
Him of British.
Asserts Sims
Tells Senate Committee
Chief of Operations Said
That We Would as Soon
Fight Them as Germans
No Reply From Admiral
Witness Says He Advo.
Gated Troops in Ship
yards to Speed Tonnage

FROM, INC IrtouneS washington bureau
WASHINGTON, March 22.-Rear Ad-
miral William S. Benson, chief of naval
operations during the war, was named
to-day by Rear Admiral Sims as author
of the verbal instructions which Sims
received just before his departure from
Washington, in April, 1917, to take
command of the American naval forces
abroad AS repeated by him, these or
ders were:
"Don't let the British pull the wool
over your eyes. 1t is not our duty to
pull their chestnuts out of the fire. We
would as soon fight the British as the
Germans"
Admiral Sims so testified at the
opening of his cross-examination this
morning before the Senate sub-com
mittec which is investigating the con-
duct of the war;
Although agreeing with Senator Pitt
man that this admonition was given by
Admiral Benson before Americas ac-
tual entry into the war, Admiral Sims
declared that it was repeated to him
ny tuc CHlci VI HaVdl OpcIdIloHS BIN
months later, when the latter was in
London.
~ did not pay much attention to it
at first" said Sims, because I be-
lieved that he was intensely anti-Brit-
ish, belief entertained generally
throughout the service. Admiral Ben
son is fair, square, honest and high
minded gentleman, and ! regarded it
as personal prejudice on his part. But
any man who is intensely anti-British
or anti-French will be controlled by
such sentiments"
Reluctant to Give Name
Admiral Sims was reluctant to give
the name, explaining that he had tried
to avoid personalities. Pressed by
Chairman Hale, however, he said:
II will tell the whole story. Early
in April, 1917, was ordered from my
post in Newport to Washington. When
I arrived I reported by telephone and
was cold not to come to the depart
ment, but to get in touch with the
chief of the Bureau of Navigation,
Rear Admiral Leigh c. Palmer. Every
it. l could not get in touch with Ad-
miral Palmer then, so l reported to
him later at the depar tment, and then
! had an interview with the Secretary
of the Navy in his office. No one else
was present, as | remember it. The
interview was very brief. | was told
that | was going abroad to confer
with the Allied admiralties; that AM
bassador Page had requested that an
officer of high rank be sent for that
purpose,
Just before leaving Secretary Dan
iels's office. or just before going there.
| don't remember which, l went to the
Bureau of Navigation. The admiral
nlral Benson gave me this admonition
There was nothing that preceded it
or followed it. l left Immediately"
When seen this afternoon at his Of
fees in the Shipping Board, where he
succeeded John Barton Payne as chair
man, Admiral Benson, who is now on
the retired list, refused to comment
on Sims's disclosure.
Not Word" Benson's Comment
"Not word' he said
He will be given opportunity to tes-
tlfy before the committee.
Calling Admiral Sims's attention to
his letter to Secretary Daniels of Jan
uary 7, in which he quoted the verbal
instructions which had been given him,
Senator Pittman, of Nevada, refreshed
the admiraPs memory on testimony he
had given to the effect that he had
never intended the letter to go beyond
the Secretary and other high officers
of the department. He then drew from
Admiral Sims that he had shown the
letter, before it was brought out in
his testim ony on the medal awards.
to Henry P. Dawson, chairman of the
American Red Cross and member of
the firm OF j. P. Morgan & Co.
II did So" said the witness, con or
about January II, on visit to the
home of Mr.. Dawson as his guest at
a dinner he was giving to Mrs. White
law Reid"
do you think this was proper ?"
Senator Pittman asked.
Called 1t an Indiscretion
81 admit it was an indiscretion, a
mistake" the witness replied
"Was he the only civilian to whom
you showed it,"
Eyes"
"Were there any other civilians
PRESENT." Senator Pittman asked.
There may have been one or two in
the house at the time, | don't just re-
call"
Did the letter contain at that time
c. s sasR