Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-03-18
Reiterates Declaration That
His Criticisms Are Aimed
AT No Individual And That
The Department AS Whole
Is To Blame.

4 Washington, March 16.-Approach-
Ing the conclusion OF his long ar
,raignment Of the navy departments
conduct of the war, Rear Admiral
eating committee today thirteen spec
ific counts in his indictment charg-
ing mistakes and costly delays
ReiterAting his declaration that his
criticisms were aimed at no indivtd-
ual,s but that Responsibility for any
failures rested upon .'the navy de-
partment as an Organization" Admir-
al Sims said: 4
.'If I have shown that there was
lack Of conviction or clear under
standing on the part OF the navy de-
partment AZ to where Its efforts
should be directed-if have shown
that the navy was hampered by a
lack of preparedness. by lack of eY-
sential plan and by being held back
in the beginning-H1 have demon
strated that victory was won not be-
cause OF these errors, but In spite Of
them. and that such errors were only
nullified. by a ombinationE of circum-
stances which we would be foolhardy
indeed to count upon in the future
then will feel that have been fully
justified In subm fitting my letter (to
Secretary Daniels) OF January Z.
'.If any individual was responsible =
AuHlAIdl 04tHSr Sdlu, y lAc. A3CS WVuAu
necessarily have to be developed by
persons who knew the inner, work
ings OF the department during the
war" 5 .3ts sgg q,
Summary OF Charges
The admiral's summary of his
charges follow:
That. in spite Of the fact that war
had been going on for nearly three
years. and our entry into: II had been
imminent at. least from February 2,
1917, the vessels Of the nary were
United States entered.
That the first few months after
America entered the war were ex-
ttreInely critical ones for the whofe
Allied cause, due, tp the slcce9 u sof
enemy submarines s. .sy E. e. /. .se,S. 4
isessItttsals .stffna atisn -.
"sss ass ss .sRs W. .ess.rsa sne
war, ana srepeate edly thereafter 4 By
cables and letters. supported bS inde-.
pendent. advicess to the government
1 from the American ambassador In
I,ond on and by Mr.. Hoover. ~.
THAT the navy departme entf sllp-
Piled me with no plans or policy
covering our participation in the
war for three months after our entry
therein.
es5 .4That, having information as to
J, the critical situation of the Allies
4 the navy department did not prompt
s1y assist them and thereby prolonged
the war by delaying the sending OF
anti i-su bmarine vessels, none reaching
Europe for nearly month after wal
was declared, and two and a hAl1
months elapsing before thirty vessels
arrived. @ ,Ss
THAT the navy department failed
to appreciate the military value OF
1 - violated Rules.
That the navy department violat-
ed fundamental military principles
In attempting to formulate war. plani
OF operation without having sufficient
knowledge! of the whole situation.
That the departments represen-
stative with Allied admirals was Nc not
supported. during the most critica
months OF, the war, either by adequate
personnel or by adequate forces thai
{. could have been supplied.
& THAT the navy department yiOlat.
ed fundamental military principles il
dispersing forces away from the crit
ical area In order to meet diversions
Of the enemy. III; W.. S'5 f Si
SE .sThat the navy department, in tbs
I first months of the war, attempted
= the direction Of details although three
4 thousand miles distant from the
scene Of active operations, where thu
situation was changing from day e
day: 4. ],
& clearly defining the resp0nsibtltty
and delegating authority to its repre-.
i sentative in Europe failed TO- follow
sound principles, common alike tc
the business and military professions
4sThat the navy department BY con-
R 7trol1lfie the operations and move
nAents5 of certain forces within thu
war area. Il violated the Fundamentals
military principle OF unity Of com
mand
Il Inkozrnat Lacking.
'.Thak the navy department failed
to keep its repre- sentative abroad
completely informed as to it plAnl
affecting dispatch and disposition of
4 forces An the war zone. and frequent.
IL reached dSciSionss IN such matteri
Z. through lnformati tion gained from
sources other than Ats representative
In the Mar zone. Z s. fI s
Admiral Sims MD he was not In.
4 sensible to gthe ''splepdtd work done
BY the navy ct large or the yartouii
bureaus and other spf4ces Of the navS
directed almost entirely to- pointing
out defects in the Administratt0n oi
7fha navy department during the frs
few months OF tho war. he a1id. e e
g.. ..The navy, if loyally and properly
Y Y Ssaiinporaed and directed, S may be-
c0anted upon to maintain tho fines
q - difions of the service, he added
4 a6d aof the officers and men Of thu
5navnI militia, and naval reserve. sas
d .iid. that without their. Invaluable
z help much Of the work done by ths