Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-03-11
Admiral Sims Produces
Records Showing Dam
iels Was Afraid.
HOOVER TO UPHOLD
SIMS CONTENTION
Will Be Called TO Show That Allies
Came Near Losing War Because
Of Americas Di!atory Policy
Sims Proves That Naval Depart.
ment Didn't Want to Fight
Sought to Save Ships.
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
Washington. March 11.-Herbert
Hoover will be called to testify in the
senate investigation Of the navy's
conduct Of the war.
Rear Admiral Sims told the COM
mittee today that Mr.. Hoover had an
intimate knowledge of the situation
in Europe at the time America en-
tered the war. and asked that he be
summoned to substantiate the adj
mirals testimony Of the gravity OF
the allied position at that time. Adj
miral Sims said he had received a
note from Mr.. Hoover saying that he
would be here Saturday, and Chair
man Hale agreed to hear him on
that day Admiral Sims said he
would like TO nave MIN called before
he proceeded further in order that
there should DO no doubt in my mind
that I have substantiated the part OF
MY letter in which / described the
gravity Of tho crisis we faced In 1917
and pointed out how near to disaster
the lack of action by the department
at that time brought US. The allies
indeed barely escaped peace with
out victory" said the admiral.
A Cowardiy Policy.
Indications that the navy depart
ment withheld sending all available
naval craft to European waters early
in the war because Of a desire to
keep the main body Of the fleet In
tact for possible eventualities were
contained in ADMIRAL Sims testimony
today before the senate committee
investigating naval conduct OF the
war.
He read 4 telegram from the de-
partment dated July 10, 1917. contain
ing an outline Of the Department.
policy ana declaring that while q
successful termination Of the war
must always DO the first allied aim
and will result in diminished tension
OF tho world, the future position OF
the United States must not be 5eop-
ardized by any disintegration OF our
main fighting fleet. "a.
'"rhe same cablegram," Admiral
sim, said, contained this state
ment:
"The navy department announced
as it's general plan of action the FOL
lowing: Its willingness to send its
minor forces in any number not In
compatible with homo needs to any
field of action deemed advisable by
the allied military council: its I'M
willinsness as a matter Of policy to
separate any division from the main
feet for service abroad, altho It -
willing to send the entire fleet to
act as a united but cooperative unit
when the emergency IL deemed to
warrant it."
First Definite Action. ~
Admiral Sims said this was the
first statement Of q policy I had re-
ceived, this arriving three months
after we had declared war.
1.-THE astounding features Of the
policy were, however, that while u
states our intention to cooperate "a
the fullest degrees, still such co-cp-
Grafton was conditioned upon de-
tense of our own waters and the fu-
ture position Of the United States
after this war was finished.
~~'T am wholly unable to conceive
of any war policy based on require
ments based on a future war"
A dispatch from the navy depart
ment dated July to the effect that
several small vessels were being sent
to augment, this force indicated
that at last they were beginning to
realize war was being fought In
European waters" declared Admiral
Sims.
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