Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-03-18
Admiral Complies Specific
List of Failures of Navy
in World War.
BELIEVES HE HAS
PRESENTED PROOF
Credits Navy With Splendid Work in
War After Unnecessary Delays and
Handieaps Thrown About Com.
mandsr in European Waters by In
eompstent Chiefs in Washinaton--
Early sIunders Costly to Allies. :
By Associated Press.

By Associated Press.
Washington, March 1s.-Approach-
ing the conclusion of his long ar
raignment of the navy departments
conduct of the war, Rear Admiral
Sims laid before the senate invests
cation committee today thirteen spe-
cific counts in his indictment charg-
ing mistakes and costly delays.
Reiterating his declartion that his
criticisms were aimed at no individ-
ual but that responsibility for any
failures rested on the navy depart
ment as an organization" Admiral
Sims said:
"If have shown .ha. there was
lack Of conviction or understanding
on the part Of the department as to
where its efforts should be directed,
then will feel that l have been fully
justified in submitting my letter Of
Jan. Z" Ito Secretary Daniels).
Summary OF Charges.
The admiral's summary Of his
charges follows:
That in spite Of the fact that war
had been going on for nearly three
years, the vessels Of the navy were
not ready for war service when the
United States entered.
That the first few months after
the American entry were extremely
critical ones for the allied cause, due
to enemy submarines.
~That this critical situation was
made clear to the navy department Z
few days, after America entered the
war and repeated thereafter by
cables and letters. supported by let
ters from the American ambassador
IN IpuQoa and by Mr.. Hoover.
That the navy depaftment SUPP
piled me with no plans or policy for
three months after our entry therein.
That the navy department did not
assist the allies and there
by prolonged the war by delaying the
sending Of nti-submarine vessels.
Mono reached Europe for nearly q
month after war was declared.
That the navy department failed
to appreciate the military value of
time.
That the navy department. violst-
ed fundamentafmilitary principles I'm
attempting to formulate war plans
without having sufficient knowledge
of the situation.
That the departments represen-
tative was not supported during the
most critical months Of the war eth
cr by adequate personnel for his statf
or by adequate forces that could
hare been supplied.
That the navy department violst-
ed fundamental principles In distrlh-
uting forces away from the critical
area in order to meet diversions OF
the enemy.
THAT the navy department. In the
frst months Of the war, attempted
the direction Of details altho 5000
miles distant from the scene Of ac-
tive operations. where tho situation
was changing from day to day.
That the navy department in not
clearly defining the responsibility
and delegating authority to its rep
resentative failed to follow sound
principles.
THAT the navy department by
the operations and move
ment Of certain forces within the
war area violated fundamental prln-,
ciple of unity Of oommnnd.
THAT the navy department failed
TO keep its representative abroad
informed as 10 its pl ms
affecting dispatch and disposition of
forces in the war zone ana frequent
y reached decisions thru informafion
gained from sources other than tts
ropr sentative in tho war zone"
Credits Navy's Work ~ Whole.
Admiral Sims said he was not In
sensible TO the Splendid work don
I.y the nnvv st large Nd ~ ti,sssn-~
'iTs bureaus ,.f the dep,. mont His
statements were directed almost en-
L...iy to point bg out da'SctA In tho
ae ministrltion OF this de,s .,nsnt
turing the nrst few months OF The
war"