Evening star., 1920-04-08
WILSON
lAUDS NAVY WORK

The vessels on the active list of the
Navy were never better prepared for
war than when the United States
Joined the allies. and the Navy De-
partment had full and complete"
plans to combat a German offensive
against the coast of the United States,
Admiral H. B. Wilson today told the
Senate committee Investigating the
Navy Departments conduct of the
world war. Replying to criticisms in
the letter from Rear Admiral Sims
to Secretary Daniels that caused the
investigation. Admiral Wilson assert
ed that from the moment war was
declared the entire Navy-the depart
ment as we'll as the f1eet-entered the
prosecution of the war with the great
est energy. and its accomplishments
deserve the commendation of the ma
ton"
Admiral Wilson. now commander
in-chief of the Atlantic fleet. COM
manded the patrol force that first
protected waters adjacent to the
United States, and later. based on
Brest, France, co-operated in protect
ing allied conveys in the war zone
and hunting U-boats.
Cooperation With Allies.
Within four days after this coun-
try entered the war representatives OF
the allied admiralties were in confer
ence with Secretary Daniels and naval
officers in Washington outlining the
means by which the most effective
assistance could be rendered by this
country, the witness declared
So far as he knew. Admiral Wilson
said, every suggestion or proposition
put forward by the allied officials was
promptly agreed to and efficiently car
ried out. The fact that the greater
part of the American Army was trans
ported over 5000 miles of water with
out a life being lost through efforts Of
the enemy testified to the success of
this cooperation, the admiral asserted.
"Our naval forces from the start CO.
operated in a most successful manner
with the naval forces of our associates
in many portions Of the seas" Admiral
Wilson declared. by their splendid
and efficient work they materially aided
in shortening the war, and in this man
ner saving untold life and property"
Mistakes the Navy made during the
war were SO relatively unimportant"
that they were hardly worth consider
ing in comparison with it's achieve
mentS. the witness said.
Referring to Admiral Sims charge
that an insufficient number Of small
vessels was sent abroad during the
first few months of American partici-
patton in the war, Admiral Wilson de-
clared that at a conference between
Secretary Daniels and allied admiral
ty representatives about April 10,
1917, the foreign officials did not Eek
press any dire need for help or great
urgency for it, and suggested that
the United States take over the work
of patrolling the waters adjacent to
this country, and one representative
suggested that the United States send
| "one destroyer abroad in order that
the flag may be shown to let 1t be
known that the United States Navy
has actually joined the naval forces
| of the allies"
Believes Allies Pleased.
II fully believe that both repre-
| sentatives (those Of France and Great
Brittany felt that they had success
fully accomplished their mission; that
they were more than pleased with
their reception by the Secretary of
the Navy and were especially i'm
pressed with the hearty manner in
which the responsible officers of the
Navy Department had shown their
desire to cooperate and thus further
the cause against the common. ene-
N.Y." declared Admiral Wilson.
The admiral read a long statement
he prepared in August, 1918, for men,
bers of the House naval committee,
then in France, to show the degree
of American cooperation with the al
lies at, that. time and its success,