Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-03-24
SIMS STATEMENT
IS DENIED BY BLISS
U. S. War Council Member Never
Favored Brigading Americans
With Other Armies.
ACTION CAME IN EMERGENCY
Hot Exchange of Words Be-
tween Senator Pittnan and
Doughty Admiral.
ACTION CAME IN EMERGENCY

WASHINGTON, March c3.-The con.
troversy started by Rear Admiral
Sims criticisms of the Navy Depar,.
mcnts conduct OF its war activities
was broadened tonight by the entry
OF the War Department 10 DENY soma
OF the admirars statements regarding
the land forces.
General Tasker II. Bliss, A,nericao
representative In the supreme war
council, not only denied catcsoricai,y
that he had recommended the brigad-
ing OF United States troops with for
cign armies, as testified by Admiral
Sims. but declared the truth Is exact
~ the reverse"
General Bliss made his denial in a
letter TO Secretary Baker. who trnn.
mittcd Il, together with a copv OF the
original order assigning General Per-
ShlnS 10 command the forces overseas.
lo Secretary Daniels. and he in ;urn
Sont Doih TO Chairman Hale. OF the
Senate. Naval Suhcommittec. at III.
same time. making all the correspond
cnce public.
Truth Exactly the Reverse.
Not only at no time d!d 1 ,nakc
OF American troops with the Britisn
army" General Bliss said. but The
truth is exactly the reverse The only
tInnsJ hm,,,; that l ever came in contact with
was in London with the American mis-
sion tthc so-callcd House misSionJ DO.
tween the Sth and 2cnd OF November,
1917. During that entire time the
idea of brigadiims or a.nalga,natint:
American troops with foro!,.n ariuIcs
had not. as far rs know, entered the
head OF any one, nor did i ever make
such = suggestion, much Tess recon
nendatiop."
General Bliss said he told the SUI
preme war council that such Il thing
:, e N n Ar1A fHra, o.
lean units with the British or French
would be "intolcraolc to American son
;imenti" which led the presiding ON
ths H no,St wss 10 declare lnd ,ha,
was heard thereafter on the subject.
Operate aH Individual Units.
IN General Pershing's original or
ders as comm mapdcr- in chief of The
american eNneditionary forces It was
specifically provided that America n
troops were to operate as individ lal
units.
r--sdmiral Sims statement Mon
recommendation was made In discus
sion by the admiral OF the most ef-
fective manner in which the United
States forces abroad could have aided
Democrat. Nevada. read from an un-
signed letter found in ADMIRAL Sims
file urging that American troops pass
ing through Great Britain bc briEaded
with the British forces.
lie called the document British
propaganda" and said it was part or
an organized effort to prevent the for
nation OF separate American army.
Admiral Sims replied that while he
had nCc written the letter. no OBJ
icctcd to having it called propa ganda,
and said i. was pretty good military
mcnded."
Urged Complete American Divisions.
General Bliss said that all British
military and political men, during has
visit to London with the House mis-
sion, urged tho sending Of complete
American divisions for tho purpose OF
having in Europe an American ma
tional army. He said he informed them
that this country hoped TO have in
France twelve complete divisions by
June ], 1913. and was told that thar
effort must be doubled. French mill
tary men later making tho same oc-
mand.
"1hc idea Of brigading completc di-
visions with other groups is an an
eurdity.' General Bliss wrote. Dur
ing the battle our divisions were at
times used to meet an emergency IN
connection with either British or
French divisions; but in The same way
troops. At no time during the .tmeri-
can missions visit To Europe did hear
even the suggestion that our troops
should he brigadcd either in large or
small bodies. with foreign troops.
Nor did ever make such suE-
Ecstion. much less recommendation.
Suggestion Came in Emergency.
''Thc fret suggestion as to the tenn
porary use OF any American troops
with those Of our allies was made at
The .imc Mhen they annrsh sh. n1SG the