Evening star., 1920-03-22
Operations Chief Warned
Him Not to Let Them Pull
Wool Over Your Eyes,
ASSERTS ADMONITION
WAS MADE THREE TIMES
Not Part of Formal Instructions,
He States-Reluctant to Give
Name of Officer.


The official who told Rear Admiral
Sims mot to let the British pull the
wool over your eyes; we would as
soon fight them as the Germans" Ad-
miral Sims testified today before the
Senate committee investigating the
Navy's conduct of the war.
Admiral Sims said the remark was
made just after he had received his
final instructions from Secretary Dan
ieis preparatory to his departure for
England on the eve of the entry of
the United States into the war. He
added, however. that it was not made
, but during a conversation in the of
flee of Rear Admiral Palmer, chief
of the bureau of navigation
Remark Repeated Twice.
The witness told the committee that
Admiral Benson repeated his admoni-
ton during conversation the follow
ing day and that he made the same
remark six months later in London.
Admiral Sims said he did not pay
particular attention to the statement
1T that time because he believed Ad-
5niral Benson was intensely antt-Brft-
iSh. He added that this belief was en-
tertained generally throughout the
service.
An aid recently called his attention
to the remark, the admiral said. and
Admiral Palmer also told him that he
remembered hearing Admiral Benson
make the statement.
The witness was reluctant to give
the name of the officer, but Chairman
Hale insisted e.
Tells Whole story.
Then I will tell you the whole
story said Admiral Sims EARLY in
April. 1917. / was ordered from my
post at Newport to Washington. When
arrived / reported to the Navy De-
not to come to the department. but to
get in touch with the chief of the
bureau of navigation. Rear Admiral
Leigh c. Palmer. Everything was
could not get in touch with the chief
of navigation then, and SO reported
TO him later at the department, and
then l had an interview with the
No one else was present, as l remem-
ber II. The interview was very brief.
] was told that I was going abroad
10 confer with the allied admiralties
and that Ambassador Page had re-
quested that an oficer of high rank
be sent there for that purpose, After
leaving Secretary Daniels ONCE, or
just before going there, l don't re-
member which 1 went to the bureau
of navigation. The admiral was there,
and 1t was at that time that the re-
mark the chairman has asked me
about was made
"whom do you refer to as the ad-
miraf ?" asked Chairman Hale
Admiral Sims said he did not wish
TO indulge in personalities. but when
pressed by Chairman Hale he said
he referred to Admiral Benson
Praises Benson's Integrity.
Admiral Sims said he included Ad-
niiral Benson's remarks in his letter
IlCv1 rAIc 10 MI o.
garding the Nays part in the war be-
cause .if man has a prejudice against
men fighting alongside OF him It has an
Unconscious influence on him."
The admiral told the committee he had
always regarded the admonition as "a
personal prejudice on the part of Ad-
niral Benson" He described the former
chief of operations IAN outstanding.
honest man who has strong convictions"
and said he believed everything that
Admiral Benson did during the war was
Done "conscientiously-"
1t was due largely to Admiral Benson's
confidence in him that he was selected
TO the high post he occupied during the
war. Admiral Sims said, adding that in
urging his selection Admiral Benson in
CURED the dislike of many officers senior
to Admiral Sims who desired the post.
Senator Pittman. democrat. Nevada,
asked. if in view of the anti-British
sentiments of Admiral Benson that Off
Ger had not acted in a broad-minded
way in sending Admiral Sims to Lon
don
The witness replied that Admiral Ben
son had always been fair and square"
showing Letter an "Indiscretion.'
Senator Pittman brought out that
Admiral Sims had shown copy of his
letter of January to H L. Dawson
of New York, while he was a guest at
Mr. Davison's home about the middle
of January. The officer could not re-
call the date but said his aid thought it
vas on January IA He admitted that
showing the letter was IAN indiscretion' -
Senator Pittman and Chairman Hale
clashed sharply over the form in which
the Nevada senator put some of his
questions. the chairman insisting that
Senator Pittman confine his questions to
the text of Admiral Sims direct testi-
ncry.
There need be no discourtesy here
Senator Hale said, "and We will have
none.
NO. will not tolerate any," said
Senator Pittman- 81 have realized that
You were going to try to break up this
cross-examinaton."
Admiral Sims interrupted to say that
he welcomed the cross-examination
that his one desire was to bring out
all the facts
Senator Pittman Diverts Course.
Senator Pittman diverted the course
copies of which are contained in the
1iIcs of Admiral Sims Office in London
tic referred first to a letter from Ad-
luiral Sims to Secretary Daniels in
July. 1917, stating that the object to
lie sought was the creation of an in
dependent American Army in France,
and then to a letter from the admiral
TO Admiral Bayly of the British navy
commanding at Queenstown. In this
letter Admiral Sims discussed future
conditions that might need to be met
a result of plans for the Anne rican
Army. which he had discussed with
Army officers not identified in the
Communication.
In the course of this letter he said
II had been suggested that a portion
Of the National Army could be better
employed "as labor in American ship
Yards" because of the serious tonnag
situation
That is dandy letter" Admiral
SIMS said Il am proud of it"
The admiral continued that he had
merely discussed with Admiral BayIy
possible future naval questions aris-
ing out of a talk he had had with Gen
.Hliss. American representative on the
supreme war council He character
ized the theory of passing troops
through Great Britain to be brigaded