Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-01-20
SIMS WARNED To
WATCH BRITISH. he:
TELLS COMMITTEE

WASHINGTON. Jan. 17.-.1nvestl-
cation py a senate subcommittee OF
awards OF naval war decorations took
a new angle today when Rear Ad-
miral William S. Sims, the only
witness heard so far, laid before the
committee a long letter entitled Ger
tain 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
ssnIls1n--ssS~-- O-rAEs-~s~~~N-a~~r EFT~rTN%S
Sims throughout the war, was the
general criticism made by the letter,
which contained also a statement that
just before he left for London Ad-
miral 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 Ger
mans"
Who issued these instructions was
not brought out during the hear
ing, but Admiral Sims said after
ward the statement had been made to
him by "a high official"
Introduction Of the letter prompt
ed 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 con-
duct of the war by the navy de-
partment.
In a 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 as
guide in future wars that "a just
estimate be made of the errors of
policy, tactics, strategy and admins
tration that were committed by our
navy" and adds that it is for that
purpose 1.-The most serious of these
errors" are summarized. Then fol-
lows the recital of the officers as
signment to London on barely for
ty-eight hours notice late in March,
1917, and this statement regarding
his instructions:
brief orders were delivered to me
verbally in Washington. No formal
instructions or statement OF the
navy departments plans or policy
were received at that time, though
received the following explicit ad-
monition: Don't let the British pull
the wool over your eyes. 1t is, none
of our business pulling their chest
E'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-
airy z. Admiral Sims read it today
at the request of Chairman Hale. The
letter reviewed Admiral Sims expe-
rience and said that at the time he
left for Europe he had no idea that
he was to command American naval
forces abroad in event of war then
impending.
For some reason which has never
been explained" Admiral Sims wrote,
'the navy department during at leas
the first six months of the war
failed to put into actual practice a
| whole-hearted policy of cooperation
with the allies--a policy required for
| winning the war with the least pos
| sible delay"
The letter charged that not until
July, 1917, did the navy department
outline a policy of naval cooperation
with the allies.
WASHINGTON. D. C.-Declar-
| ing that the greatest handicap of the
American navy was the lack of con-
structive criticism and the fact that
naval officers were refused permits.
| sion to publish any matter without
| first submitting it to the navy de-
partment, Rear Admiral Sims told
| the senate committee investigat-
ing naval, decorations that, his critl-
! cism Of the. cfrcums stances of sorus
| Of the. awards was a plain duty. saT..s
1t did not involve INSTRUMENTATION,
as some newspapers had seemed to
| assume he said, nor was there any
| intention to make a personal attack
on the secretary. ,,+-+
Admiral Sims had verbal tits with
| several senator's, particularly ,Sena-
tor sPittman, which caused laughter
among the spectators.
1--WE people who have worked all
our lives in the navy know If morale
! les not right the navy is not right
Admiral Sims said, land the Lord
knows it has never been worse than
it is now"
The awarding of some thirty med
ais of honor in connection With the
landing at Vera Cruz, Mexico, wher
only one or two had been recon-
Ifnended by commanding, officers,s. hi
said, affected service morale. % a5s
! admiral Sims said only. AS rec.
concentrations out s4ef 44O were not