Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-01-20
EDITOR PUTS BLAME FOR NAVY DISGRACE ON HEAD OF DANIELS. Rath0m, of Providence, Says
 Innocent Men Were
 Entrapped SIMS, DANIELS, MAYO
 AND WOOD DRAWN IN Further Congressional Inquiries and
r further Congressional Inquiries and investigation by Naval Board Are Probable Outcomes of
 Charges

Are Probable Outcomes of
 Charges
 Washington, Jan. 19, Charges of Rear Admiral Sims that the navy department failed to cooperate fully with the allies during the great war will be investigated by the senate subcommittee before which they were made
 That was decided today by the full naval committee, which also author ized appointment of another sub- committee to determine, whether there should be an inquiry into charges made by John K. Rathom. editor of the Providence, R. l.. Journal, that with the knowledge of Secretary Daniels many seamen in the navy have been used for most vile and nameless practices in order to entrap innocent men,"
 While the senate committee was in session, Secretary Daniels an nounced that Admiral Sims would be called on to make good his charges either before the senate or a naval board
 Simultaneously Chairman Butler of the house naval committee announced that Major General Leonard Wood would be called before that com mittee to explain statements attri- buted to him that American naval vessels were "floating death traps" General Wood explained at Portland. Maine, today that what he said was that naval ships manned by untrain- ed crews would be death traps in battle.
 Inquiry into Admiral Sims charges will not be started by the senate subcommittee until it's present in- vestigation of naval decorations is completed, which probably will be within 10 days. That investigation was continued today. with Admiral Sims concluding his testimony. Rear Admiral Mayo, commander in chief of the Atlantic fleet during the war, will be called tomorrow.
 Scores Daniels.
 The full naval committee met to- day in executive session. Senator Pittman, democrat, Navada, sought to have the entire committee conduct the inquiry into Admiral Sims alle- gations, but Senator Lodge, republi- can, Massachusetts, objected on the ground that the committee was too busy with other pressing matters. Senator Pittman then sought to have special subcommittee appointed, but this motion was defeated.
 With this matter disposed of, the committee took up telegrams sent to Senator Lodge and other members by Rathom charging immoral conditions in the navy and it authorized Chair man Page to appoint b-committee to make a preliminary inquiry to develop whether an investigation was warranted.
 MT. Rathom. alleged that there was division of the naval intelligence created and maintained for the specific purpose of using naval sea. men to "entrap innocent men" and that as the result of the "practices" resorted to "the morale of the navy department is being rapidly destroy ed" He added that "the entire blame for this situation stands at the door of Mr. Daniels and nowhere else," and that five have ample evidence in proof of these assertions"
 Secretary Daniels declined to com ment on MT. Rathom's charges, de- claring that he did not desire to make statement until he was more familiar with the allegations.
 Assistant Secretary Roosevelt, who was said by Mr. Daniels to be fami- liar with the matter, asserted thay the special board of inquiry appoint ed by the judge advocate general of the navy, two weeks ago, had full authority to investigate the methods, by intelligence in securing evidence from persons under suspicion of nor al delinquency and to inquire into all judicial procedure of the navy at Newport.
 Daniels Silent.
 While charges of improper methods of obtaining evidence in such cases have been in the hands of the navy department for two months, it was said the department withheld action upon them until the cases of several civilians brought to trial upon evil dence furnished by the navy. includ- ing the Rev. Samuel Neal Kent of Newport, were disposed of in the federal courts. The board of In- quiry, the assistant secretary said, will proceed at once with it's ln- vestigation with full power to subpoena witnesses and get at all the facts.
 Secretary Daniels also declined to discuss the assertions attributed 's General Wood, saving that if any one wished to put "him on oath and let him tell what he knows about the navy, he might be called before the committee and he can explain his expert knowledge"
 Entering general denial of the Sims charges against the navy de' partment the naval secretary declar- ed that "the matter has gone so far that unless at the senate investiga- tion the charges are proven to thA entire satisfaction of the American people, an inquiry will be made by the naval board"
 The secretary emphasized that Ad- miral Sims was not commander in chief of the American naval forces overseas and that throughout the war he was subordinate to Admirst Mayo as commander of the Atlantic fleet, and to. Admiral Benson, chief of naval operations. He said Admir- al Sims duty was to make recom- to the department and