The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-03-15
WOMAN TOLD SIMS
Of CONVOY SAILING
Admiral Says Germans Knew
United States Naval Code
Before War Started.

A woman In Paris knew OF the
sailing OF the nrst convoy OF Amer
lean troops TO France in 1917 before
the American naval officers In Eu-
rope knew, Admiral Sims revealed
today when he resu -ed his testimony
before the Senate investigating com
mittee.
Reading from an intelligence re-
port OF the American naval atta"h9
at Paris, whose name was not given,
Admiral Sims quoted:
ITO show how closely guarded
military secrets were kept In the
United States, ! have only to state
that the first knowledge | receiv,
that the first convoy had actually
sailed was in the course OF so3tal
conversation with a woman.
Undoubtedly. the womsn's hus-
bands business friends in New York
had cabled him in some sort of
business code"
Enemy Knew Code.
Admiral Sims said that the Ger
mans knew our navy code which had
been used in peace for years, and that
II was hard to believe other than
that the enemy knew all about the
movements OF these forces"
He asserted that he was not in
formed officially OF the sailing of
the troops until after the allied offi-
GERS knew all about 1t, and that a
copy of the American convoy plans,
drawn up and signed by President
Wilson, in May. 1917. was not sent
him until five months later.
1.-The action OF the department
might have had the most disastrous
effects" he said. referring to the first
convoy.
"In later reports to the department
/ pointed out how the inclination TO
trust their information and judgment
alone has been the cause of grave
danger To our forces. AS a matter Of
fact. il was only by luck the enemy
did not get number OF, not only
troop conveys, but some of the groups
of destroyers that arrived in May"
BIanes Navy Department.
Referring again to the first convoy,
Sims said:
. 81 wish to make il perfectly clear
that 1 make no criticism whatever of
the commander of the troop conveys.
Such confusion and difficulties as
arose were due to the orders and plans
given to him by the Navy Depart
ment"
Referring to some instructions
given him about convoy plans. Sims
said:
"The whole scheme of troop con-
voy. outlined in this message, showed
a complete disregard and ignorance
of convoy methods and of war ex-
perience in the submarine danger
zone"
American troops received more
protection than the allies were able
to give their own troops on the high
seas throughout the war" Sims as
serted, in pointing out that troop pro-
lection was the first essential.
Opinions Not Harmonious.
Admiral Sims today accused the
Navy Department Of attempting to
run Joint campaign over a 3,000-miie
cable"
This violated a sound military
principle,">he said.
He cited conflicting opinions be-
tween himself and the Department
over plans to guard against enemy
raiders, as IAN impressive example
of the deplorable absence of unity of
command on the seas"
Sims declared that he had warned
of the dangers from raiders in Sep
TENDER. 1917. and that ten months
later, when the danger was imminent,
tne department nau ITO dpproNeu
plans" of meet it. Referring to this
danger, he said:
'If the enemy only had know all he
had need do was make a series of
bluffs and we would have done the
rest. Shipping would have been
paralyzed.'
Sims said the department sought
"only the royal road to victory" and
that they constantly sought "to de-
velop some such solar picks blow"
which would Immediately defeat the
submarine.