Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-03-14
HOOVER REFUSES TO GIVE
VIEW ON navy WAR POLICY
Hut Says 1t Is True Allies We're
Hard Pressed for Food
During 1917.
SIMS MAKES NEW CHARGE
Declares He Was Kept In Dark By
Navy Department in Regard to I'M
nrtant Activities in Cooperating
With Allies.


fBy Associated Prcsyl
WASHINGTON. March l3.-Whilc
refusing TO comment on military plans
or policies. Herbert Hoover today told
me senate committee Investigating;
she Navy Departments conduct Of the
war that, owing to shorta;, Of food
ana heavy sinking OF allied merchant
tons abroad were critical from APRIL,
i2it. until September.
MT. Hoover WAS called before the
committee 1t the request Of Rear-Ad-
iiirai slime, who asserted that he WAS
, best qualified 10 SUPPORT his contention
that the allies were losing the war
when the United States joined them.
ana mat only a vigorous cnmpaign
victory.
Declines to Comment on Policy.
hSked II the Navy Department could
no, have offered more complete, CO.
tho critical zono. Mir. Hoover declined
10 express AN opinion. except to say
that he supposed Everything WAS
done tina; could be-" lie told the com
mite" tina; he did not consider him-
technical military and naval th Ha,tort
ana that his business was TO "Sct food
TO the allies
scales in favor of tho allies az tho
u sri!cal period of the war. although :;
Won the war.
IT is fact IS Il not shat tho allies
would have loS;-thc war Il the subrua
inc campaiSn had no; been chcckcd?'
asked Chairman Hale.
Would Have Lost mt Once.
rhey would have lost It IN a mo
mon, almost replied MIR. Hoover
The allies were on The borlor!amd 81
.tnryat!on from April 10 September.
We'll. tho submarine campaign was
located after the United states en-.
,croI the war wasn't H. asked Scna-
obv amns.: lsta Ara ,I ri9r4' We
Won nc War and Inc allied armies did
The antIsubrnarlnc campaign wa
ono o; the mos; important elements %
ne United states participation IN tho
"ar. Mr.. Hoover said.
Il assume that everything was done
s ,san Question ana /, is hard to say
ned the war. Such clements az In
i"rnal conditions in Germany. The
nor. Of 'hn opposing forces, and the
Germany. had much 10 do with ~
Sims Makes Charges.
Documentary evidence In suppoi, o.
., ,s rhha .r thai the Nav pepartm"m,
day by Roar HdaiTai Sims S'i to ne sen ~
Delay and confusion" resulted
ron rom t nr dispn?,mGn's fatlure TO notiiy
movements Of naval for 1A' within the the
area OF his command. az We'll a. else.
yhcre he said adding that rho r"sui,
t!so was 10 create in The minds o.
allied officials an impression that he
yas no, supported by and in The con-
!dencc OF his government.
,ar,ments PLANS: the admiral con
inucd.. the allied adrniraltics carried
n direct ncGo,!ations with tho Navy
department. in Washington. Allied
vamworh Was impaired and American
ddinE:
"Indoub,ed,y a: times such inde
'cndent negotiations resulted in direct
ohNict with nay recommendations"
Not I'm Departments Confidence.
Admiral Sims told tho committee the
rst intiMatt"n he had that he was
OF in the full confidence OF tho de-
hrtmcnt cam. soon after II. had sub
lifted his hrst REPORTS from London
ic learned thon. hy accident. n" said
hat an agreement had been reached
I'D French naval officials in washing
osltion Of American naval forces. The
rms OF this agreement wcrr cabied
y Admiral Jcl!tcoc by tho british rep
csentatIvc Oh April -, 1917. lie de
llnred.
": notifying him beforehand. :he de-
ar,mcut arranged with the French
avail attach" - sc.d ten or more
achts 10 coubu: submarines of the
'rench coast; arranged 10 establish
no naval bases III france: sent naval
via,ion forces 70 III, country: dis.
lent 100 cannon 70 France on naval
oilers; started q. campaign IN the
age; dispatched tho Firth Destroyer
quadron from 81; JOHNS 70 Queens
.-oyers from New York 10 ioln his
prce.
Arrived before Tic knew 1t.
some OF these vessels he said; ar.
g. ioc:,t.on 70 his command. IN most
4scs. he said. he received helated IN
,rInation from French and British
purccs. bu, seldom in slime 10 make
roper adjustments and ARRANGEMENTS
Pr receiving the ships,
-otest.d continually against tho de-
irtmcnts failure TO keep him tn
Ermed the situation was not rom
THAT grea, confusion existed with
gard to the cstahlishmont Of tho
Ss IL sff did ' nG 'h snow 'Ae WAT i
= Ianted was demonstrated. tho admiral
Lid. hy a letter nc received tarly IN
i.mmand the, !sordeaux base. This
ilcer ne said, wrote tina, tho :itua;
on in France is not clear 20 me- and
al when he had asked. upon being
dcrcd TO the command OF the base.
hat his duties were. were , ne hn ID been
] asked the same question and got
e same answer from al! the Other
[iheueIr said after waiting abou, four
iscks. received orders TO proceed
lin a party OF eight persons, but still
/ instructi ion"
4 similar condition existed with re-
Ri TO American naval aviation forces
Int abroad. Admiral sims said.
lille criticized particularly the as
y:nmcnt OF vessels to the AZORES Is
Sids without first informing him o,
!. departments plans. and said that
H. Washington officials played into
4, cncmy's hands by permitting \
lbmurine attack Azores port
| cause diversion of America nava!
Ices TO those waters. He charac-
E;zcd the incident as a violation Of
1, fundamental principles OF war
j.e." and an indication OF the 'cffcc
eneSS OF German propaganda"
WAGES WAR ON AiGRETTES