The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-03-11
Which Declared That "Fu-
ture Position Of United
States Must in No Way
Be Jeopardized by Any
Disintegration Of Ou r
Main Fighting Fleet !"
- Sims SCOTS at War
Policy.

cations that the navy department with
held sending all available American ma
val craft to European waters early IN
the war because of desire to keep the
main body of the nations sea strength
intact for possible eventuallties We're
contained in Admiral Sims testimony
to-day before the Senate committee in
yestioatinc the naval conduct of the
war. He read eablegram from the
navy department, dated July 10, 1917,
containing an outline of the depart
ment's policy and declaring that while
a successful termination OF the pres
ent war must always be the first al
lied aim and will probably result IN
diminished tension throughout the
world, the future position of the United
States must in no way be jeopardized
by any disintegration of our man
fighting fleets.
The cablegram, Admiral Sims said,
contained tbs statement; The navy
department announces as its general
plan of action the following: It's will
inQness to send It's minor fighting
forces in any number not incompati-
BILE with home needs to any field OF
action deemed advisable by the allied
admiralty council; its unwillingness as
a matter of policysto take any divi-
sion from the main fleet for service
abroad although it is willing to send
the entire battleship feet abroad to act
as o united, but cooperating, unit
when the emergency is deemed to war
rant IT,"
With regard to this message and
statement policy, Admiral Sims said 1t
was the first definite statement OF
policy had received. arriving few
davs over three months after we had
declared war"
"The astounding features of this pol
icy were, however, that while it stated
our intention to cooperate TO the full
est degrees, such cooperation was con
ditioned first upon an adequate de
fense of our own waters and next upon
the future position of the United
States after the war was finished,
said the admiral II am unable to
conceive of any war policy, particular
" in a world war of this nature, which
was certain to exhaust all of the par
Elephants with the possible exception OF
ourselves, based upon the requirements
of any possible future waI,
A message received from the navy
department, dated July >. to the effect
that several small vessels were being
sent to augment his forces indicated
that they were at last beginning To
realize that there was a war being
fought in European waters" declared
Admiral Sims. On july 80, Admiral
Sims testified, he sent the navy de
partment n review Of the discussions Of
the allied naval council, in which he
stated that ''it was made apparent that
closer coordination of effort should
be immadiately established between
the United States and the allies" and
reiterated his previous requests for
more>small craft with which to fight
submarines.
Even as late as January. 1918, he
was still calling for more destroyers
Admiral Sims said, and by that time
he declared. his predictions that the al
lies would lose the war unless the Unit.
ed States gave more complete navaI
cooperation were being justified by re
suits and the navy department was be
ginning to carry out his recommen
dations Of six and eight months be
fore.
On April %, August "a, and Septem
ber 10. 1918, Admiral Sims said. ht
wrote the department, expressing HI:
disappoint at the apparent non
success Of the destroyer building pro
gram in the United States, and urg
ing the necessity of speeding up" pro
duction Of anti-submarine craft and
sending every available small vessel Z
The war zone. even at the expense oi
the protection of the coasts of th'
United States.
Il am only introducing testimony
so far along in 1918 at this time {,
bring out the accumulated effect o.
not having thrown our full weight int
the war at the beginning" the admira
said.
The situation vas so serious and tbs
consequences Of failure 50 terrible that
Twent beyond the channels which th'
navy afforded me and enlisted the serv
ices Of such men as Ambassador Page.
Hoover to Be caIes to Testify.
Herbert Hoover will Be called to tes
tifv in the senate investigation Of tn
navv's conduct % the war.
Rear Admiral SINS told the inquiry
committee today that Mr.. Hoover bad