Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-11
SAW ONLY THROUGH.
BRITISH GLASSES
Nation Will Never Forgive
Charge That It's Delay Cost
100000 Lives.
SREAT WORK OF NAVY
F.ecretary Reveals Americas
Amazing Contribution to
Victory on the Sea.
SREAT WORK OF NAVY

WASiiINGTON. May l0.-Secretary
)anicls launched :; vigorous coun-
eroncnsi.c against Rear Admira;
inns today when he appeared be-
ore the senate Investigating com
nlttee to answer charges made by
he officer against the Navy Depart
lents conduct Of the war.
Sweeping criticism OF Admiral
inns occupied Mr.. Daniels, most of
he day being devoted TO reading :,
arefully prepared statement. His
LACK came as preface To hla
nswcrs 10 the Sims charges of fall
re ana lack OF co-opcration, and he
nsparingly arraiEncd the admiral
or pro british idiosyncrasies." vio-
alton OF naval regulations and crit
iism OF the scif-sacrihcing and sue
essful efforts" OF his fellow officers.
Nnvy's Record Stands Snf~.
So far as he dealt today with Ad-
l!ral Sims charges iha, delay by
ne department had prolonged the
iar unnecessarily Secretary Daniels
cclarcd the navy's war record stood
nntouchcd today and for ali time.
cgariless OF criticism from within
without"
"As 10 tho American navy's part
the great war" he said. there are
two opinions alike. Al home or
broad.
The most serious charges made by
,diniral Sims are without founda-
ION. and the others are unjus;ifcd.
pom his assumption OF what he
ais errors amd small foundation
facts. Admiral Sims has erected
towering structure OF exagSeration
nd MISREPRESENTATION"
Complained OF DerirIons.
The admiral, MIR. Daniels said. de-
red 10 accept the King OF Eng
,nd's offer that he become an hon
rdry member of the British Adml-
atty and wrote complainingly"
hen the department declined TO
How him to accept the appointment.
mS coveted foreign decorations and
pparently placed more value on
hcm than on honors his own gov-
rnmcnt could bcstow. Mr.. Daniels
eeiarcd. aud in public speeches
inim!zc the United States pnrt in
he war and gave maximum of
redit 10 the British.
Mr. Daniels said ne always re-
ordcd the admiral's desire for
ri;ish honors' AS love OF glitter
nd foreign dccoratlons.' although
disapprovcd OF /, officially and
rivately.
Put nritish Nnvy First.
Sims. Secretary Daniels told the
ommittee. did not measure up TO
Spectations in varions ways. Of
hich he mentioned six. as follows:
Ike lacked vision to see that
reat and new project to bar the
ibinarines from their, hunting
nd carried our. no matter what the
%bst or how radical the departure
ON what ultraprudent men re-
1rdcd as impracticablc.
"Ilc seemed to accept the views OF
ic British Admiralty as superior to
3nythinS that would come from
merica. and urged those views even
hen the Navy Department proposed
Ans that proved more effective
In public speeches and other ways
? gave maximum o: crcdi, to
ritish efforts and minimiZed what
is country was doing.
Coveted Briiist Ionorx.
He coveted British decorations
honors given abroad than on
onors that could be conferred bv
ie American, government.
"Hc nspircd TO become a member
|, the British Admiralty and wrote
8,mpiainingly when the American
overnment declined TO permit him
accept such a tender by the King
! England.
nipping as the main operation Of
ir forces abroad, falling to aDprc-
a:c that tho protection of trans
}rts carrying troops to France was
1T impeiled to cable him per-
ission."
Dtxcredited AmcrIcn'x Part.
Secretary Daniels testified that had
known that in October. 1918. Sims
I'D made statements rejecting upon
'e contributions OF the United States
members OF Congress. visiting
broad. he would never have recon-
ended his promotion.
rme hnd not then attacked the
blended American sailors. the
roper, thing to do, when attacked
3aStS IS eiemSnt by what ia eert ee ter"G9 9w hsd
nown that he proposed. under tho
.rm,Ssion granted him to tell the
DRY or what the navy had done
yerseas. TO denounce the Irish pco-
IN the
'orld's Work. the permission would
)t have been granted"
Never Criticized Sims.
Secretary Daniels said he had
eveT' publiclX or privately, crit
frly vision in connection with the
Forth sea mine -harrage project. cor
other mistakes or wrong views"
dmirai Mayo succeeded in convinc-
,g the British Admiralty OF the
,undness OF the barrage scheme
here Admiral Sims had failed, he
although the department had dis
ions and denied some OF his desIres"
Id SECRETARY Daniels. 81 nnistakenIy
1ipposcd until the letter OF January
mat he had accepted and ncqui.
Continued on Second Page.) :