Omaha daily bee., 1920-01-18
Commander Of American
Naval Forces Overseas
Charges Lack Of Co-0pera.
tion Hindered His Efforts.
TOLD TO BEWARE OF
BRITISH ENDEAVORS
"United States Would as Soon
Fight British as Germans
He Was Told, According to
Evidence Given Senators.

EVldenCe Glven senators.
Washington, Jan. H.-Investiga-
ton by a. senate subcommittee of
awards OF naval war decorations
took new angle today when Rear
Admiral William S. Sims, the only
witness heard so far, laid before the
committee long letter entitled
certain naval lessons of the great
war" written by him to Secretary
Daniels. arraigning many aspects OF
the Navy departments conduct OF
the war.
Lack of full cooperation with the
commander of American naval
forces overseas, the post filled by
Admiral Sims throughout the war,
was the general criticism made, but
the letter contained also a statement
that just before he left for London,
Admiral Sims was told mot to let
the British pull the wool over your
eyes" and that the United States
would as soon fight the British as
the Germans.
Who issued these orders was moi
brought out during the hearing, bu,
Admiral Sims said afterwards the
statement had been made to him by
"a high official
= Wants Wider Enquiry.
Introduction of the letter prompted
Chairman Hale, republican, Maine,
to announce that he would ask the
full naval committee Monday to au-
thorize his subcommittee to make
a wider inquiry or to appoint
another subcommittee to investigate
the conduct of the war by the Navy
department
Wants Wider Inquiry.
In statement relative to Admiral
Sims letter, Secretary Daniels said
he had referred it to the general
board with directions to give con-
sideration to it and to all other COM
munications directed to the depart
ment concerning the lessons of the
war"
The letter declares it important Al
a guide in future wars that "a just
estimate be made of the errors of
policy, tactics, strategy and admin
istration that were committed by
our navy" and adds that it is for
that purpose that "the most serious
of these errors" are summarized.
Then follows the recital of the Of
hcers assigned to London "on bare
ly AZ hours notices in March, 1917,
and this statement regarding his in
structions:
Received Verbal Orders.
Brief orders were delivered to me
verbally i'll Washington. No formal
instructions or statement of the
Navy departments plan or policy
were received at that time, though
received the following admoni-
ton: ." Don't let the British pull
the wool over your eyes. 1t is none
OF our business pulling their chest
nuts out OF the fire. We would as
soon fight the British as the Ger
MANS"
The letter contained more than
1000 words and was written Janu-
ary z. Admiral Sims read it TODAY
at the request of Chairman Hale.
1t reviewed Admiral Sims expert
ences and said that at The time he
LETT for Europe, he had no idea that
he was to command American naval
forces abroad in event of war, then
impending.
As soon as he arrived in London.
the letter said, Admiral Sims real
ized that the Naval department did
not comprehend the seriousness OF
the submarine menace, due to the
insufficient scope OF the American
intelligence service.
Serious Situation.
"A review of the cables sent to
the Navy department in April, 1917
the letter said, shows that the stu
alton was very serious and that the
enemy was rapidly winning the war
by the destruction of merchant ship
ping. Throughout the following
year numerous cables and letters OF
the most urgent possible character
were sent with the object of inl-
pressing on the department the vital
necessity of our maximum effort
being exerted in European waters
with the least possible delay, but
without producing the desired re-
suit"
The Navy department was re-
peatedly told. the letter said, that
it was matter of simple arithme-
teal calculation to determine that
the allies must lose the war il the
rate of ship loss continued.
For some reason, which has
never been explained" Admiral
Sims wrote, "the Navy department
during at least the first six months
OF the war, failed to put into actual
practice any cooperation with the
allies-a policy required for winning
the war with the least possible de-
lay"
The letter charged that not until
July, 1917, did the Navy department