The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-03-19
NAVY NOT READY
WHEN WAR CAME
DECLARES SIMS
The Admiral is About to Reach
the End of His Lengthy State
ment of Criticism

Washington. March 1S.-Concluding
his long arraignment Of the Navy De-
partment's conduct of the war, Rear
Admiral Sims laid before the Senate
investigating committee today thirteen
specific counts in his indictment char
ging mistakes and costly delays.
He reiterated his declaration that
his criticisms were aimed at no indi-
vidual but that responsibility for any
failures rested upon "the Navy De-
/ partment as an organization
The admiral's S summary of his char
ges follows:
THAT. in spite of the fact that war
had been going on for nearly three
years. and our entry into it had been
imminent at least from February 2,
1917. the vessels of the navy were
not ready for war service when the
United States entered
THAT the first few months after
America entered the war were ex-
tremely critical ones for the whole
allied cause. due to the success of
enemy submarines.
THAT this critical situation was
made clear to the Navy Department
a few days after America entered the
war and repeatedly thereafter by cab
les and letters, supported by indepen-
dent advices to the government from
the American ambassador in London
and by Mr.. Hoover.
That the Navy Department sup
piled me with no plans or policy cov-
ering our participation in the war
three months after our entry there
in.
No Prompt Assistance
THAT, having information as to the
critical situation Of the allies, the
Navy Department did not promptly
assist them. and thereby prolonged
the war by delaying the sending Of
antl-submarine vessels, none reaching
Europe for nearly month after war
was declared. and two and a half
months elapsing before thirty vessels
arrived.
"That the Navy Department failed
to appreciate the military value of
time.
THAT the Department. representa-
tion with the allied admiralties was
not supported, during the most criti-
cal months of the war, either by ade-
quate personnel or by adequate forces
that could have been supplied.
THAT the Navy Department violat-
ed fundamental military principles
the situation was changing from day
to day
THAT the Navy Department, in not
clearly defining the responsibility
and de!egating authority to It's rep
resentative in Europe, failed to fol
low sound principles, common alike
the direction of details although
three thousand miles distant from
the scene of active operations, where
knowledge of the whole situation.
Di.tated 5000 Miles Away
"That the Navy Department violated
in dispensing forces away from the
critical area in order to meet diver
sions of the enemy.
"That the Navy Department, in the
first months Of the war, attempted
to the business and military profess
operation without having sufficient
fundamental military principles in at
tempting to formulate war plans Of
sions.
THAT the Navy Department, by
controlling the operations and move
ments Of certain forces within the
war area, violated the fundamental
military principles of unity Of COM
mand
THAT the Navy Department failed
to keep its representation abroad
completely informed as to its plans
affecting dispatch and disposition Of
forces in the war zone, and fire.
quently reached decisions in such
matters through information gained
from sources other than its repre-
sentative in the war zone"