The Pensacola journal., 1920-03-16
sims EXPLAINS
|. CONVOY SYSTEM
Insists Daniels and Department
Laid Ships Open to Attack
by Use of Old Codes.

Washington, March 15.-German
submarines were enabled to attack the
first convoy of American troop ships
sent to France because the navy de-
partment used an unsafe code which
was intercepted and deciphered. Rear
Admiral Sims told the senate inves-
tigating committee today.
Only a measure of good luck"
brought the convoy safely to port. the
admiral said, and other troop ships
and destroyers were ENDANGERED
through similar incidents early in the
war.
THE announcement of the sailing
of the first American destroyers was
printed in Berlin four days before they
arrived at Queenstown" declared the
officer
Admiral Sims said he implored the
department not to send messages re-
garding troop conveys in the code re-
ferred to, but the warning was dis
regarded. All the other allies and the
enemy were using new war time codes.
he said. while the United States con-
tinued to trust invaluable information
to code used for many years.
Information regarding conveys bound
for France was known in social circles
in Paris before even General Pershing
was informed officially, Admiral Sims
asserted. To illustrate the the wide
spread knowledge of the plans for the
first conveys departure, the admiral
testified that the United States naval
attache at Paris obtained his first
word that troop ships were sailing
from a woman whose husband had
received the information in a business
message.
Arrangements for the early convoys
were confusing and did not conform
to the allies methods of safeguarding
troops in transit, Admiral Sims said,
and the navy department made no
effort to consult him and thus avail
itself of the experience of the allies
in handling troop ships. Regulations
for the conveys were drawn up in the
war and navy departments and signed
by President Wilson, Secretaries
Baker and Daniels, General Bliss and
Admiral Benson on May 27, without
reference to him. Admiral Sims stated
and his first knowledge of thess ar
rangements came when he received a
copy of the regulations nearly five
months later.
.As an illustration of how completely
was in the dark" the admiral said.
II received information from both the
French and British naval authorities
concerning the convoy before I was
officially informed of it by the de-
partment.'
Referring to the message from Sec
retary Daniels, dated June 6, 1911,
marked Very Confidential" and con-
tanning directions for the protection of
the convoy of destroyers, Admiral Sims
said it would be impossible to find
a more striking example of the de-
partments insistence upon making de-
cisions based upon complete mlsln-
formation
"The whole scheme of troop convoy,
outlined by this message, showed
complete ignorance and dlsresdfo oi
con,,ox p,ethods and of war experience
in the submarine danger zone, ne
continued.
I, rasnonse to his protests. the ad-
rniral said. he received reply that
tho ..denartment recognizes the sound
ness of vour recommendation, out pc
canse of the present sensitive punlic
oniniou considers il essentlai that the
asoor+ orders for the first convoy al
raady issued. be executed py Anerl-
90, aestrovers.' The admiral had
rseo,noended. he testified, that the
-,o,,,-ovs be protected by whatever al
,iea escorts were available. There was
no question at any time Admiral Sims
a;d as to whether troops should get
ttsa very best protection available
..-Throughout the war" he added.
american troops received more pro-
.action than the allies were able TO
I've their own troops on the high
seas
on July 4. 1917. Admiral Sims said
he received q cable from Secretary
naniels congratulating him on the sue
.assfuI escort of the convoy
II wish to make it perfectly clear
that I have no criticism TO make OF
the commander Of the troop conveys,
he said. such confusion and differ
ences as arose were due to orders and
plans given him by the navy depart
ment
That the department realized the
iuadeauacy and danger OF the ar