The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-01-28
Sims and Daniels.

Admiral Sims. who is the stormy
petrol of the u S. navy, has stirred up
a great scandal in official circles as
result of his recent revelations" de-
clares the Port Huron Times Herald
Qnd)
1t all started when the admiral re-
fused to accept a distinguished service
medal, because he thought Secretary
Daniels had made his medal awards so
unfairly as to destroy the morale" of
the navy. Now congress is investigat-
ing the matter, and Admiral Sims
comes forth with letter criticizing the
navy departments management of the
war.
THE least important of the counts in
the Sims indictment against the navy
department" the New York Evening
Post Qnd) says, has been most
heavily PLAYED up in the news" This
was the admirars statement that on
leaving for London just before America
declared war, he was instructed (by
British pull the wool over his eyes"
as we would as soon fight the British
as the Germans" A shameful order,
declares the Cleveland News Qnd.), and
the Steubenvile Herald Star (Repl
says that whether as coarse and
stupid joke, or fraught with all the
meaning which the words imply. it
seems so out of keeping with the grav-
ity of the situation as would appear in
credible were it given on any less au-
thority than the acknowledged head Of
the American navy"
Secretary Daniels denies that he gave
such instructions. but says he did warn
Admiral Sims against unneutral utter,
ances that might embarrass the United
States, since We We're not then official
ly at war, though on the verge of 1t.
But of the charge that the morale
of the American navy was never at
lower ebb than right now" the Roam
oke. Times Dem.) says, lit is important
that congress get at the reason" for
IF there is anything radically wrong
with the American navy we had better
know it," The New York Sun Qnd.),
declares that facts. and all the facts,
are what the American people want y
| and the Buffalo Evening News (Rep),
believes that the honor of the navy,
the honor of the nation, demand that
there be thorough inquiry"
THE impression was general" says
| the Spokane Spokesman Review Qnd.
| Rep), that the navy gave most eff
| cient service through the war and that
| its morale was high. With that belief
| in mind criticism of Secretary Daniels.
which had been pretty loud and caustic
nearly died out" But now the secre-
tary's whole attitude toward his job is
under fire. "The committee" says the
New York Tribune Repl should go
deeper than any mere differences as to
| particular measures of strategy during
the war 1t should investigate Mr.:
Daniels policy from the beginning OF
| his administration"
The Birmingham News Dem) re-
| views all Admiral Sims charges against
the department, finding many Of them
well founded, especially his position in
! e wi 49, hn Io1g
Most of his other charges, however, are
directed against the navy department
! because 1t disagreed with his idea OF
| tactics. No senate probe or any
action by a legislative body is capable
of deciding this argument of tacti-
clans" The News thinks the Republi-
cans can use it to embarrass an oppo-
sition administration, and this they viii
| proceed with great glee to do" The
| Dallas Morning News Ind Dem.) like
wise finds Mr., Daniels Tin an undeni-
ably embarrassing fix" over the media
awards, having awarded decorations
with lack of discrimination which
must work to defeat the end congress
had in mind in institutng them"
The admiral is criticized by some
papers for "indscretion." The New
York World Dem.) says that lin eff
feet, Admiral Sims grievances lie
against the constitution, which makes
| TIE pItSluelll Inc COHlIlduueI- III -CIllel
| The Springfield Republican Gnd) thinks
that if Sims was cautioned don't lei
the British pull the wool over YOU
eyes" the advice may or may not have
been needed-it was question of the
admirars strong pro- British proclivi
ties and temperament. The un.
necessary revelation of it is a blazing
indiscretion." The Wheeling Register
| (Dem.) thinks it "a downright shame
that politicians and disgruntled indi
our glorious war record" The Youngs
town Vindicator Dem.) says, sims Ii
playing politics" and. finally the For
Wayne Journal-Gazette Dem.) say
the admiral lis now engaged in telling
the world that the American nav,
amounted to nothing-Which is anothe
way of singing God Save the King"
But "one of the results of the Sim