Evening star., 1920-01-17

Characterizing the alleged attitude O
the department as "a terrible thing.
Senator Mccormick, republican, Illinois
said:
- believe we will have to go to the
naval affairs committee or the Senate
for further instructions and authority
to investigate this entire matter of the
attitude of the Navy Department toward
Admiral Sims mission. 1t is terrible
thing"
When Admiral Sims finished reading
the letter Chairman Hale announced
that the full naval committee would be
asked either to empower the present
subcommittee to investigate Admiral
Sims charges of lack of cooperation
or to appoint a separate subcommittee
to conduct the inquiry.
Admiral Sims testimony was i'm the
form of a letter to Secretary Daniels,
entitled Some Naval Lessons of the
Great War" which Mr.. Daniels received
several days ago. The letter criticised
the department for attempting to ad-
minister the details of action by the
American naval forces overseas and al
legged that the department demanded
that it be permitted to pass fully on all
y plans, even those regarding action
against the enemy.
Favored Sea Service.
Admiral Sims told the investigating
committee that he had recommended
for decorations five times as many Of
ficers who served at sea during the
war as he had officers who served on
shore.
He made this explanation. he said
to correct an impression, apparently
widely held. that he favored the deco
ration of officers detailed to shore
!. duty more generally than those who
' served at sea.
= The admiral also read a letter he
wrote to Commander D. W. Bagley
expressing great regret that Secre-
tary Daniels should have been so
badly advised" in the matter OF
awarding a distinguished service
medal to Commander Bagley.
Il am very sorry that you should
be placed in such an unfavorable light
after your fine destroyer service in
the war zone" the letter said. 'and
feel sure that if you had been con-
suited in the matter you would have
taken steps to avoid this.
The criticisms in the press attack
the Secretary, particularly for award
ing the ID. s. NJ. to you and about all
those who commanded vessels that
were torpedoed during the war"
Admiral Sims told the committee he
wrote this letter after he had writ
ten Secretary Daniels criticising the
circumstances of some of the awards
German submarines did not gener-
ally attack combatant vessels, the
admiral said. adding that Commander
Ragley's destroyer, the Jacob Jones
was sunk by chance shot at dis
tance of two miles by submarine
commanded by Hans Rose, who took
the U-53 into Newport harbor.
There was no chance in a thousand
for hit he said, "and Rose was
lucky"
Medals for Enlisted Men.
Referring to the statement that nc
enlisted men were recommended by
him for medals. Admiral Sims read
cablegrams sent to Admiral Knapp
In London last July urging that the
compilation of lists of men to be re-
warded be expedited.
Discussing submarine warfare ir
. general, Admiral Sims said if the Unit
ed States had had 500 destroyers when
II entered the war it never would
have had to fear the submarine cam.
palgn- The admiral characterized the
11O-foot submarine chasers as "mis.
conception" but said they were moi
entirely useless.
Turning the inquiry back to the
question of naval awards, Senator
Pittman. democrat, Nevada, declared
that Admiral Sims represented a mi
nority of the officers of the Navy
and that the members of the knight
board represented the majority. Ad.
miral Sims said that while he was ir
the minority the officers of tn.
knight board were not in A position
to judge fairly of the relative merits
of the officers recommended for dis
tinction.
Admiral GIeaves' Letter.
Replying to statements by Admira
Sims that there was not a naval officer
in his force who was not criticisine
and ridiculing the method of award.
ing medals, particularly awards tt
mn ND hi
Senator Pittman read letter from Ad
miral Gfeaves, commanding the cruiser.
1 and transports. approved by Admira
Mayo hly-complimenting Capt Ora
ham of the transport Finland, torpedoet
but saved, and recomme nding the of
ficer for d. S. NJ He declared tn,
letter and other similar ones proved
that some other distinguished nava
officers did not agree with Admira
Sims contentious. Sinking of tn,
cruiser San Diego and destroyer JacoI
Jones were cited as cases where higi
officers approved the D. S. NJ for tn,
commanding officers.
Admiral Sims then read his letter
entitled Some Naval Lessons of tn,
Great War"
Department Aid Slow
Although he asked repea tedly for Off
GERS to help him handle the situation, tn
Navy Department did not send any ali
until July, 1917, when three officers wer
sent TO him, Admiral Sims letter said
Although he asked for at least the stat
n destroyer tiotilla commander woul
have in time of peace, the letter declare
Admiral Sims worked for more tina
four months with but one officer assist
ing him. He was told that there wer
no other officers available. the lette
said.
II was trying to get the depart
ment 70 understand that 1 was con
tronted with . physically impossibl