Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1920-01-30
SENATE IS URGED
To REbUKE Sims
Resolution Hits the Admiral Tor
Breach of Confidence.
LODGE BUSHES TO DEFENSE
Senator Borah of Idaho Approves
Warning Given to Commander
Says Senate Is Making Noun
tain Out of Mole Hill.

Washington, Jan. pa resolution
declaring that the action Of Rear Ad-
| miral Sims in making pubic oIncial
| instructions of the most conndentlai
character" affecting international re-
| lations deserved the condemnation OF
all Americans, was introduced in the
senate by Senator Walsh (Dem), Mon
tana, a member Of the naval commit
| tee.
Senator Walsh's request for immedi-
ate consideration was denied on Cd
| lection by Senator Lodge.
The resolution quoted from the let
ter read by Admiral Sims last Satur-
day before the senate committee IN
vestigating naval decorations, in Wnlcn
the admiral said that before he LETT
the United States for Europe in
March, 1917, he was told by high
naval official not to "let the British
pull the wool over your eyes; 1t is
none of our business p-:lling their
chestnuts out of the fire; we would
as soon fight the British as the Ger
mans"
Admiral Sims must have and did
consider these instructions. ii they
ever were given, to be of the most
highly confidential character the res
olution said, adding that his action IN
making them public deserved univer-
sal and unqualified disapproval.
81 cannot but believe that whether
the admonition was or was not given
to Admiral Sims, the disclosure under
almost any circumstances must re-
ceive the disapproval of every Amer1-
can" said Senator Walsh.
Senator Mccormick (Rep), .ilfno>f
declared the resolution affected mat
! ter that was to be later investigated
| by q subcommittee and Senator Lodge
objected to consideration of the reso-
luton on the ground that it contained
/ grave charges against one of the most
prominent officers of the American
navy, without giving him an oppor-
| tunity TO defend himself
Borah Approves Warning.
Replying to an inquiry by Senator
Borah (Rep.), Idaho. whether Admiral
Sims volunteered his letter, Chairman
Hale of the decorations subcommittee
said:
1.-The admiral produced 1t because
insisted l am entirely willing to take
all responsibility
| Declaring that Admiral Sims could
not object If the committee ordered the
letters production, Senator Borah
said he thought the senate vas max
| ing a mountain out of mole hill in
this entire affair."
The warning given to Admiral Sims
against letting the British pull the
WOOL over hi eyes was approved by
Senator Borah, who said the official
| giving it should be commended.
ST don't see anything to censure
either Secretary Daniels or the admir-
al" said Mr.. Borah at was very
proper admonition, and | regret that
the secretary has denied it."
Senator Walsh said the whole ques-
ton was over disclosure of c0nfiden-
tial orders by the admiral. and Sena-
tor Thomas (Dem.), Colorado, said it
seemed to him that there was gross
violation of somebody's confidence"
Senator Phelan (Dem.). California.
inquired whether the committees in
vestigation proposed to consider CEN
sure of Admiral Sims If he acted i'm
properly, and Senator Hale replied
that the whole field would be covered,
including general investigation of the
conduct of the war in connection with
naval matters.
General Barnett Opposes Sims
Before the committee investigat-
Ing the award of naval decorations.
Major General Barnett commandant
of the marine corps, took issu. with
previous statements by Admiral Sims
TO the committee that the controversy
had arisen because Secretary Daniels
had not promulgated a well-defired
policy to govern awards. ~
There was mo need for a = =
promulgated by the secretary re s
ing medal awards" he explaiaEe K
tions was suffict 'exp& ~
commanding of =
| their recommeu
His own RECON- las to Ma
| rine officers who the United
States were not in the ma.
| iority of cases. G. Barnett as
i ,artod and hp had eyDrESSpd rnprpt tr