Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-04-08
ADMIRAL WILSON
SAYSNAVY Was
IN GOOD SHAPE
~,
Declares Navy Department
Was Ready For Fight
Against Ger1nans.

Washington, April S.-The vessels
on the active list of the navy were
never better prepared for war than
when the United States joined the AL
lies and the navy department had
full and complete" plans to combat
German offensive against the coasts
of the United States, Admiral H. &.
Wilson today told. the senate COM
mittee investigating the navy depart
ment's conduct Of the world war.
Replying to criticisms in the letter
from Rear Admiral Sims to Secretary
Daniels that caused the zinvestiga-
ton. Admiral Wilson asserted that
from the moment war was declared
the entire navy-the department as
we'll as the fleet-entered7 into the
prosecution of the war with the great
est energy and its accomplishments
deserve the commendation OF the ma
TONS. .ea" 'H, u.
. 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
EaeetinK Allied. conveys in theswarr zone
rand hunting yU-boats. tsfS C.
. "Odr naval r 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 iA this manner saving un-
told life and property" y g.
Mistakes the. navy made during
the war were SO relatively unim-
portant" that they were hardly
worth considering in comparison with
its achievements. the witness said.
mo nation upon the approach of
war has had a force. of ~,battleships
was the force to which l was attached
and which spent the winter of 1916
~ in southern waters" Admiral Will
son testified. Il feel sure that il this
force had engaged an enemy. on its
cruise north in the spring of 1917,
the victory. would have been ours"
s. Kansas City Affected.
Kansas City, Mo-, April S.-An un-
authorized strike of switchmen EN-
ployed by several of the railroads en-
tering Kansas City was in progress
today.
The number of men out could not
be, definitely estimated until it was
S0Eii iAoN.T 6ShSidIll Lie SlIAhc cSall
was obeyed by the day crews.
The walkout. which began last
might was characterized as illegal hy
officials of the Brotherhood of Rail-
way Trainmen.
Demands, of the men. it was said
would be announced at a meeting CT
strikers t. be held later.
! According to early reports the
strife call was obeyed by all or part
of night. crews employed on nine of
| the thirteen roads. Switchmen of
the Missouri Kansas and Texas; Chi
cago, Milwaukee and St. Paul and
Union. Pacific declined to go out. ac-
cording to the best obtainable re-
ports. The Chicago, Rock Island and
Pacific was not affected as its switch
men are members of the Switchmen's
Union Of North America. There are
about. 1000 .switchmen employed on
roads entering Kansas City.
Washington. April S-Asked by
Chairman Hale what the American
Meet could haye done had the German
f1eet broken through the British line
duting the war. the admiral said: ~
u I'VE, would have given it pretty
good drubbing."
good condition in April. 1917, as the
British feet was in August, 1914" he
said. tsn.
,s'Couldn't you have prepared more
fully between l914 and April, 1912
asked Chairman Hale. s4
done think so when you consid-
er the sentiment IN the Limited Slater
during that peried.'' replied the ad-
miral. lst