Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-03-22
BENSON NAVAL
OFFICER Who
'MAOE BREAK
Admiral Sims Reveals
Identity Of Man Who
Was Pro German.
TOLD SIMS NAVY
WAS ANTI.BRITISH
Admiral Dsnsen, Then Chief Of Nav
iaatien, Instructed Sims Not to
Permit British 70 Pull Wool over
He eyss and That W. "Wou'd a.
ssen Fight British ~ ths Ger
msns.s

seen Fight British ~ The Ger
name. i
BY Associated Press,
washington. March 22.-Hear
Admiral William 8. Benson. then
chief OF naval operations. was the
official who told Rear Admiral Sims
mot to let the British pull the wool
over your eyes; we would az soon
aght them ~ the Germans" Admiral
sims testified today before the
senate committee investigating the
naval conduct Of the war.
adauii1.s. SINS SINS said the remark was
made lust after he had received his
fnal instructions from Secretary
Daniels preparatory to his departure
ON the eve Of the entry OF the
United States into the war. he
added. however, that 1t was not
made in the course Of formal in
structions. but during conversation
In the office Of Rear Admiral Palmer
chief of the bureau OF navigation.
e,nsen Was Anti. British.
The witness told the committee
that Admiral Benson repeated bus
admonition during . conversation
the following day, and that he made
the Same remark six months later IN
London.
Admir,l sims said he did not pay
particular attention TO the statement
- that time, because he believed
Admiral Beuson Was intensely anti
British. He added that this belief
was sntsstainsd sspspily thruou1 '
y. ~ q .sds ssessslt ssus4 his atten-
tion to tho remarks. thD admiral
said. and Admiral Palmer also told
him that he ramsnbered hearing
Admiral Benson make the statement.
Sine Reluctant.
The witness was reluctant to give
the name OF the officer. but Chair
man Hale insisted.
.aThen will tell you the whole
story said Admiral Sims, Early IN
April. 1s17,. was ordered from my
post at Newport to Washington
When I arrived reported to the de-
partment by telephone and was told
not to come to the department but to
get In touch with the chief of the
bureau Of navigation, Grad Admiral
4Leigh G. Palmer. Everything was
very secret. the way they liked II.
I c1uld not get In touch with the
chief OF navigation, 30 reported to
him lateE and then had an inter
view with the secretary Of the navy
In his office. No one else was
present, as 1 remember It. The in
.terview was very brief. I was told
that was going abroad to confer
with the Allied admilalities and that
Ambassad0r Page had requested that
an officer OF high rank be sent there
for that purpose. After leaving
secretary Daniels office or pust be-
fore going there. don't remember
which, went to the bureau Of navi-
cation. The admiral was there and
Z II vas at that time the remark the
chairman has asked me about was
made"
"Whom do you refer TO as "the
admiralr' asked Chairman Hale.
Admiral Sims. when pressed by
Chairman HALE, said he referred to
Admiral Benson.
- Sims Admire sonson. 81
Admiral Sims said he included Ad-
Mifal Benson's remark in his letter
TO Secretary Daniels on Jan. Il. re-
garding. the 'navy's part in> tho war.
because *if . man has prejudice
against men fighting alongside Of
him 1t has IN unconscious INFLUENCE
on him. ,
& Tho admiral told the committee he
had gaiwavs regarded the admission.
q ! personal prejudice on the
part Of Admiral Benson" He des-
cribsd ths former chief >of operation
q fan upstandtng honest man who
has q strong conviction ana added
TINT he believed what Admiral Ben-
son did during the war was done
1conscientiously.s Il was duo largely
To Admiral bensons confidence in
him that he Was selected for the
h!gh post he occupied during the
war, Admiral Sims said. adding that
IN recommendaxinE % his selection
Admiral Bensod incurred the dis.
like OF many officers senior to Ad-
mlrn Sims Who desired the post.
Senator rat&maia, democrat, Of
Nevada, a1lked Il In view Of the anti
British sentimsnts Of Admiral ben;
son that OFFICER had not acted in 1
broad minded way In sending Ad-
miral 6iiiis Is London.
Tho witneSs replied that ADMIRAL
anzksnn had alwAxa .hAey.s .."saiy : ..A
sims Rsssnts crItleism.
..Admiral Benson's statement
should never have been made public"
ssaid Senator PittJnan resumins ex-
-anaina4ion
~ you meanf BY mo-" asked Adj
mlra1 Sims, 8ls 3i NJ
~ You 81 any one else" replied
the,ssnatDE TT referred tO agreat pow
er With Whichs we were on friendly
t1suae - Waa sivep to you In
IsIs Nh IT n N n ',.
! II IL a n '|.:I IijlII