The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-05-14

publication of these remarks might
mean dissention among the allied peo-
pie and might give comfort to the en-
envy.
Dozens of Documents.
But there are dozens of documents
just like the one Secretary Daniels
has just made public, which throw
war. Congress has seen fit to probe
expenditures and give an impress
sion that the government was ex-
travagant and wasteful. The presl-
| dent has made no answer But, as
the political campaign approaches,
there VIII be many answers.
Charges that money was wastefully
spent will be met by lifting the veil
on the entire management of the war.
1t will be found, for instance, that the
allies were in much more desperate
straits than the world generally knew.
1t will be disclosed that their appeals
to the president were answered one
after the other with a spirit that threw
prudence to the winds" The perilous
situation Of the allies influenced u
good many hasty actions on the part
OF the American government which
never would have been sanctioned in
! moments of calm elaboration.
The controversy between the Amer
lean and British navies continued for
many months, The Sims episode is only
one of number. Again and again the
two navies were arguing how the war
should be fought. The British had ap-
peared content to fight defensive war
on the seas, President Wilson was in
sisting always on an offensive. even
though 1t meant concentrating the en-
tire fleets of the allies and making a
raid and landing on the German coast.
Tactics Wilson Advocated.
The presidents idea of shortening
the war was to combine the allied
force into an overwhelming Weapon.
He advocated the same kind of tao
tics on land. He believed in Marshal
Foch from the first. He didn't hest
brigading Of American troops with
British or French, doing something in
that connection incidentally which
amazed the European nations-for Mr..
Wilson didn't reveal any national SEN
sitiveness such as had troubled the
British and French governments in
handling their military men.
There may be a good deal of po-
litical mud singing this year, but of
one thing the public can rest assured.
low the American war record to be
clouded, Admiral Sims started some
thing when he began his criticism OF
the navy department.
Not Personal Controversy.
ractieally all the admrals of the
u. S. navy who were on the other side
took issue with him 1t is not a per-
sonal controversy, 1t is really a diff
ference between the American and the
British way of going at the war. At
this end it was suspected that Admiral
Sims became saturated with the Britt
ish viewpoint.
OF course, it had been charged, par
ticularly by the friends of Irish free
dom, that President Wilson was thor
oughly English" and that he was con-
stantly under British influence. The
covenant of the league of nations has
been denounced as Wilson British" 1t
would not be surprising, therefore, il
the administration took the public into
it's confidence on some of the troubles
it had with the British during the war.
OF course, the British had trouble
with the French, and so did the Amer
leans. Allies never can harmonic in
war time. The selection of general
issimo and the blishment of unity
of command on land as well as water,
developed because of this friction.
But little has been said about tho
land operations of the United States.
There is much to be made public just
as interesting as the messages that
passed between the American and Brit
ish navies.
Cen. Pershing could tell some inter-
esting stories about his troubles with
the commanders of other armies. If
Mai Gen. Wood becomes the nominee
Of the Republican party, and any con-
siderable part of the campaign is de-
voted to criticism of the administration
for not sending Gen. Wood to France,
the next series of revelations can be
expected The Sims controversy has
started something which the admins
tration is beligerently taking advantage
Of to answer its critics.
Copyright by David Lawrence, Inc)