Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-01-22

Washington, Jan. i9.-Charges OF Rear
Admiral Sims that the navy department
failed to cooperate fully with the allies
during the great war will be investi-
gated by the Senate sub committee be-
fore which they were made.
This was decided to-day by the full
naval committee, which also authorized
appointment of another subcommittee to
determine whether there should be an
inquiry into charges made by John r.
Rathom, editor of the Providence Or. I)
Journal, that with the knowledge of Sec
rotary Daniels many seamen in the navy
have been used for most vile and Nance
less practices in order to entrap nno-
cent men"
While the Senate committee was in
session Secretary Daniels announced
that Admiral Sims would be called on to
make good his charge either before the
Senate or Il naval board
simultaneously Chairman Butler Of the
House naval committee announced that
Major-Gen. Leonard Wood would be
called before that committee to explain
statements attributed to him that Ameri-
can naval vessels were floating death
traps General Wood explained at
Portland, Me, to-day that what he said
was that naval ships manned by unframed
crews would be death traps in battle.
Inquiry into Admiral Sims charges will
not be started by the Senate sub-com-
mittee until its present investigation Of
naval decorations is completed which
probably will be within ten days That
investigation was continued to-day with
Admiral Sims concluding his testimony
Rear Admiral Mayo, commander-in-ch chief
OF the Atlantic fleet during the war, will
be called tomorrow.
The full naval committee met to-day in
executive sessions. Senator Pittman.
democrat, of Nevada, sought to have the
entire committee conduct the inquiry
into Admiral Sims allegations, but Sena-
tor Lodge of Massachusetts objected on
the ground that the committee was too
busy with other pressing matters. Sena-
tor Pttman then sought to have u special
subcommittee appointed, but his motion
was defeated.
With this matter disposed of the COM
mittee took up kilograms sent to Sem
ator Lodge and other members by Mr.
Rathom charging immoral conditions in
the navy and it authorized Chairman
Page to appoint subcommittee to make
preliminary inquiry to develop whether
an Investigation was warranted
Mr.. Rathom alleged that there was n
division of the naval intelligence created
and maintained for the specific purpose
of using naval seamen to "entrap limo
cent men and that as the result of the
| practices reported to "the morale of
the navy department is cling rapidly de-
stroyed." He added, 90 entire blame
for this situation STANDS III the door of
Mr.. Daniels and no where else" and
that I'VE have ample evidence in proof
of these assertions"
Secretary Daniels declined to comment
on Mr.. Rathoms charges declaring that
he did not desire to make a statement
until he was more familiar with the al
legations.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt, who
was said by Mr. Daniels to be more
familiar with the matter asserted that
the special board of inquiry appoint
ed by the judge advocate general of
the navy two weeks ago had full au-
/ thority to investigate the methods en-
ployed by naval intelligence officers
! in securing evidence against persons
under suspicion of moral delinquency