The evening world., 1920-05-13
SimS's Charges Give Oppor-
tunity to Disprove Accusa-
ton of "PuSSy-Footing."
HAD TO PUSH ALLIES.
Intends to Bring Out Many In
stances to Show How He
Urged Fighting.
Bn Dapid Laurence.
| Especial corruapandsnt Of The Eve
EVsnfna WORLDLY

WASHINGTON, May 10 copyright,
1890 .-'something more important
than the mere rcfutatlon of Admiral
SINGS charges that the American
Navy did not do lbs proper share in
the early stages OF tho war. some
thing more than a controversy over
war honorS is behiAd the revelations
being made by secretery Daniels
with the consent of President Wilson.
The administration has long
smarted under the criticism that IL
''pussy-footed' during the war. that
II slowed up" and that II hesita'ed
to make big sacrifices either on land
or sea in the hope that n "peaco by
negotiation" might shorten the war.
Even as the President was en-
deavorihg 70 answer the final plea O..
the Germans for an armistice. he was
being criticised by political orators on
the ground that no wanted to make
"a soft peace" It will be remembered
that unconditional surrender clubs"
were organized to offset this supposed
weakness Of the President.
DRIFT OF WILSON'S FIGHTING
TALK KNOWN At CAPITOL.
Throughout II all Mr.. Wilson has
maintained secrecy. Many people in
the capital knew. for instance, that
he made the lighting speech aboard
the battleship Pennsylvania before the
assembled officers OF the Atlantic
fleet. The White House was implored
by newspapermen to permit the pub
iication Of that address. It was con-
tended that It would do a great deal
toward enthusing tho American peo-
ple--but the President refused.
II was evident, however, that the
freedom with which he had criticised
the British navy was the fundamental
reason. II was feared that publIca-
tion OF those remarks might mean dis
Sension among the Allied people and
might give comfort to the enemy.
But there are dozens OF documents
just like the one Secretary Daniels
has just made public which throw
light on how America conducted. the
war. Congress has seen Mt to probe
expenditures and give an Impression
that the Government was extrava-
CANT and wasteful.
Tho Administrator has made
no answer. But AZ the political
campaign approaches there will
be many ansWsrS. Charges that
money was waStsFully spent will
be rofvtsd by lifting the veil on
the entire management of the
war. Il will be found, for in.
q stance, that the Allies were in
much more desperate straits than
the world generally knew. II
will bo disclosed that their ap-
pOals 10 the President were
anAwefed one after the other with
a spirit that threw prudence TO
the Vlnds."
influenced a good many hAaty actions
on the part, OF the American Gov
ernment, which never would have
been sanctioned in moments of calm
deliberation.
The controversy between the Amer
lean and British Navies continued for
many months. The Sims episode IN
only one OF number. Again and
agaan tho two nRvi6H were arguing
how the war should be fought. The
BritiHh had appeared content to dght
a defensive war on the seas. Presl-
dent Wilson was insisting always on
an offensive even though 1t meant
concentrating the entire fleets of the
Allies and making raid and landing
on the German coast.
The Prenldsnt's idea OF short
ohinu the war was 70 oomblno the
Allied force int an oVsrWhelHi-
ino weapon. Ne adVoeatOd the
skns kind Of tactics on land. H6
believed in Marshal F0eh from
the first. He didn't hesitate to
approve the request for the bri.
uadino of American troops with
British or French, doing some.
thing In that eonnsetlon, Incl
dentally, which amazed the Euka-
pean HatlonD--for Mr.. Wilson
didn't roVeat any national sensi-
tivsnegs such as had troubled the
British and French Governments
in handling their military men.
lueNo may w a bbVa Noal u bOAlhl
cal mud slinginE this year, but OF one
thing the public can rest assured
the Administration isn't going 10 AL
low. the American war record TO bC
becIOuded. Admiral Sims started
something when he began his crit
clam OF the Navy Department Prac.
ticaiiy all the Admirals OF the United
States Navy who were on the othel
side took issue with him. II IL mo-
a personal controversy. az Is really
a difference between the American
and the British way OF going at tn,
war. At this end II was suspected
that Admiral Sims became saturated
with the British viewpoint. H'N
OF course II had been charged, par,
tleularly by the friends OF Irish FREQ
dom. that President Wilson WA
thoroughly English" and that h,
was CONSTANTLY under British infiu
enoe. Tue covenant Of the LeaSne q
Nations has been denounced al
"Wilson- British" II would not B,
surprising, therefore, n the Admin
Z i1trafion took the public into itB con
\ fIdon1o ou some of The trQubies Il hat
with TIE British during the war
OF course the British had troubl,
9TH the Preach. and - did An,