Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-03-25
NAVY IN. STATE Of
CHAOS WHEN j. s.
BEGAN WAR, CHARGE
Assistant Chief Of Bureau
of Navigation Follows Ad-
niraI Sims to Stand in
Probe

WASHINGTON, March 24.-Vir-
tual chaos existed in the navy de-
partment at the time the United
States entered the war, Captain Har-
ris Laning, assistant chief of the
bureau of navigation during the war,
testified today before the senate in
vestigating committee.
The navy not only was not pre-
pared when the United States en-
tered the war, but it did not carry
on in the early days "as efficiently
as it could and should have" Cap
tain Laning said.
Captain Laning, who followed Rear
Admiral Sims on the stand, said his
statements were based on his ex-
periences at sea with the fleet just
before the United States entered the
war and in the navy department at
Washington afterwards.
Plan Disapproved
The witness said that at about the
time the United States declared war
the office of chief of naval opera
tons had prepared a rlan outlining
how the navy's first efforts should
be directed, but that it was disap-
proved by the department with the
result that when a plan of opera
tons was needed the navy was
without one.
He charged that during the war
it always was difficult and fire.
quently impossible to obtain the de-
partment's approval to essential
plans and policies, making it neces-
sary for subordinate officers to go
far beyond their authority to get
things accomplished, thus increasing
the difficulty of carrying on the war
and decreasing the effectiveness of
American participation.
Captain Laning also told the COM
mittee that the various units of the
department could make no co-ordi-
mated effort to carry on the war for
lack Of a definite. general plan; that
the fleet was not ready for opera
lions when war began, and that In
the years Immediately preceding
1917 the department did not take an
attitude toward legislation and poll
cies that would have prepared the
fleet.
Didn't Know What to DO
Captain Laning said no one knew
what to do after a plan of action
submitted by the bureau Of opera
lions had been disapproved and that
the personal characteristics of the
secretary of the navy often made
it impossible to get approval Of real
ly important policies.''
Captaing Laning summoned up his
criticism as follows:
lin the years Immediately pre-
ceding our entry into the war" the
navy department did not take an at
titude on legislation and policies
th,.t would enable the fleet to be
made property ready for war, and
the fleet was not properly ready
when war was declared.
2 Even when war was imminent,
when it was apparent that war
could not be avoided, the department
that ought to have been done to make
the navy ready to carry out the war
in it's full strength and along the
right lines"
3 about the time war was de-
clared, although carefully drawn up
plan was prepared by CHEF Of naval
operations, the plan was not approx
ed and as the result the navy did not
not have any general plan" to meet
the enemy submarine campaign.
4 "The various parts of the navy
department would make no co-ordi
mated effort to carry on the war" be-
cause of this lack Of definite plan
with the result that not only was
the effectiveness of the naval eff
forts greatly reduced in the early
stages Of the war, but also the cost
Of the war, was probably consider
ably and unnecessarily added to-"
During the war it was always
difficult and frequently impossible
to obtain the departments approval
Of essential plans and policies"
At the request of Senator Pittman,
Democrat, the letter of General Bliss
denying that he favored brigading Of
American troops with those of the
allies was inserted in the record.
Admiral Sims had said General Bliss
Co tho n1an