The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-01-17
WARNED SIMS
AGAINST BRITISH
Navy Told Admiral There Was
No Choice Between Fight
With Germans and
English.

Washington, Jan. t7.--Rear Ad-
nirsl Sims told the senate commit
tee investigating naval awards today
that when he was ordered to Eng
land In March, 1917, Just before the
United States entered the war, he
was instructed by the navy depart
ment mot to let the British pull the
wool over your eyes" and that I'VE
would just as soon fight the British
as the Germans"
The admiral also charged that
American naval headquarters in Lon
don did not receive cooperation from
the navy department. and that the
department did not arrive at any de-
cided plan of action until ten months
after he arrived In London. He added
that 1T was ten months before we
really came to the aid OF the allies or
acted on their recommendations"
Admiral Sims testimony was in the
form of a letter to Secretary Daniels
entitled Some Naval Lessons of the
Great War" which Mr. Daniels re-
ceived several days ago, The let
ter criticised the department for at
tempting to administer the details Of
action by the American naval forces
overseas, and alleged that the de
partment demanded that II he per-
mitted to pass fully on all plans.
even those regarding action against
| the enemy.
Characterizing the alleged attitude
of the department as "a terrible
thing" Senator Mccormick repub-
lican, Illinois, said:
II believe we viii have to 20 to the
| naval aaffirs committee of the senate
| for further instructions and authority
TO investigate this entire matter of the
attitude of the navy department to.
ward Admiral Sims mission"
! Senator Hale. chairman OF the sub
committed said he would ask the naval
affairs committee for further authority,
| In view OF the serious charges"
Senator Pittman said the letter should
not have been read, III had nothing TO
do with our Investigation"
Complaints Summarized.
The complaints against the departs
| ment by Admiral Sims We're cited as
| follows
No policy.
Did not have policy for three months
| after war started. During critical
months of submarine campaign, depart
ment violated principles OF defense.
/ Navy department did not support rep.
/ FCSeVNdtlNcS III dlltou
Commander unable TO pick his aides.
Instead Of relying on those who had
actual experience the navy department
continued its "unlnformed course"
Convoy system Too SLOW.
Answering a question by Senator
| Trammel, the admiral said he served
on land.
MY Office was on land as was the
headquarters of every high commanding
officer OF the allies. II was impossible
\ 90 establish headquarters on the sea.
he said.
Had he wished TO nght all would have
commanded ON the sea" he said
Admiral Sims said the antlsubmarin,
campaign was conducted on the patro
| system when he arrived In France. Tho
convoy system was introduced soor
after the United States entered activ-
tiles.
"The loss of time caused by the con
voy system is such that II Is not wise
to begin the convoy system when speed
s required" he said.
'If the white people of the world had
believed that n nation would attack
merchant ships. we would have built
enough destroyers TO make such attack,
impossible. The submarine cannot com.
bat with the destroyers.
Tribute TO "coleue Boys"
"There were very few naval officers
who believed the submarine could dt
what II haB done. We thought the sub
marine could operate only IN closeC
waters. When we found the large onei
could stay out three months we knew
that the submarine chaser was not ef
fective.
|. I'VE then adopted listening devicei
which located the submarine"
Sims paid high tribute to the "coI
lege boys" who manned the submnrin,
Chasors.