New-York tribune., 1920-03-26
Convoy Irailed
| Troop Y Vessels,
| Says Fletcher
Admiral Testifes Ships
! Assigned Him Were So
! Slow They Gave Little
/ Protection to Transports
Naval Inquiry Opened
Captain Palmer Admits Off
GERS Disobeyed Orders
of Daniels for Recruits

From. TAe Ts;bw~s's Washington Bwrsd~
WASHINGTON, March 25.-Two
more naval officials to-day Joined in
he attack on the administration OF
the Navy Department during the war.
Admiral William C. B. Fletcher, tes-
t6fying at the opening session Of the
Naval Court Of Inquiry, convened at his
request to inquire into the circum-
Stances Of his removal by Admiral
Sims from command Of the United
States patrol squadron based on
France, declared that hhe vessels as
signed to his command by the depart
pent were so slow it was almost i'm
possible for them to keep up with the
transports and munitions ships they
we're supposed to convoy and protect.
Captain Leigh c. Palmer, who served
during the war as chief Of the Bureau
Of Navigation, told the Hale committee,
Investigating on behalf of the Senate
the naval conduct Of the war. that, in
his opinion, "the procrastination of
Secretary Daniels proved to be the
initial handicap Of the navy in the
var"
Explaining his difficulties in protect
ing american transports on their way
yp and down the French coast, Admiral
Fletcher told the naval court that the
vessels assigned him, instead of being
destroyers that could circle about their
conveys, were converted yachts and
fishing smacks, for the most part.
Poor Protection for Transports
( Il recall on one OCCASION" Admiral
Fletcher told the court, chat the AL
cedo, whcih was one Of the largest of
the vessels l had, was so much slower
than the vessels she was helping to
escort that to keep abreast of them she
had to follow straight course while
they were zigzagging."
s Fletcher was removed from his COM
nnand by Admiral Sims, following the
sinking of an American transport by
German submarine, Sims alleging that
the patrol commander had disobeyed
instructions. Admiral Sims, who has
previously been testifying before the
Senate committee, was present during
che testimony of Admiral Fletcher, and
was repre- sented by Captain Twining,
who was his chief Of staff during the
war, and by Judge Advocate General
A'oooSsa ASAcetA. admiral tleCcnGr
Eas represented sby Judge Advocate
Captain Bennett, and by two civilian
attorneys.
], Friends of Admiral Sims, alleging
that the Fletcher inquiry was encour-
aged by Secretary Daniels as "smoke
screen" against the Senate investiga-
tlon, called attention to-day to the fact
that Mr.. Daniels had repeatedly denied
Adn4fatrF F4etcner's appeal for naval
mve estigatlon of his grievance, and only
allowed it after Admiral Sims had fired
his broadside of charges against the
Secretary and the department.
! Owing to the slowness of the pro-
eedure of naval court, the main issue
between the two admirals, the circum-
stances surrounding the loss Of the An
titles, had not been reached when the
court adjourned this afternoon.
I Says Daniels Blocked Enlistments
Backing up the testimony given be-
Tore the Hale committee yesterday by
captain Harris Laning, wartime as
slstant IN the office OF Chief of Naval
Operations, Captain Palmer told the
committee to-day that Secretary. Dan
1els appeared unable before the actual
outbreak OF hostilities to appreciate the
need of enisting and training addition
81 men to man the ships Of the navy in
preparation for the conflict.
! Even after the war started" Captain
Palmer testified, che used to say we
On the eve of Americas entrv into
the conflict, he said, the Secretary, in
face Of the strenuous efforts of the Bu-