The Pensacola journal., 1920-03-18
Sims DEPLORES
LACK OF AIDES
Admiral Tells Senate Committee
Navy Department Gave Him
Little Help in London
URGED CONVOY CONTROL
His Recommendations for Unity
of Command We're Not Ap-
proved Though Desirable

Washington, Mar. 17.-Unity of COM
mand of the allied and American naval
forces overseas similar to that which
afterwards obtained on the Western
front was recommended by him to the
navy department as early as July 1917,
Sims today told the senate committee
investigating the navy's conduct of the
war.
The admiral said that efforts to di-
rect a large force of American ships
and men by cable and letters from
a point 5000 miles away gave too many
opportunities for Misunderstanding
of messages and for their interception
by the enemy
The enemy secret service proved
itself to be extraordinary efficient he
said.
Nearing the end of his long state
ment to the committee, Rear Admiral
Sims elaborated his charges that the
inadequacy of his staff abroad pre-.
vented for several months maximum
efficiency in the United States naval
participation in the war He testi-
fled that he was unable to bring the
navy department to a realization of
the Importance of his post and the
necessity for providing for large staff
at the outset to compile and digest al
lied naval information and direct the
early details of American cooperation
on the seas.
Admiral Sims said he arrived in
London in April 1917 with but one aid
and Immediately realizing the magni
tude OF the task confronting him,
cabled the department requesting that
three additional assistants be sent him
at once. Before he received any reply
he was placed also in command of the
destroyer force abroad. and thereup-
on asked for three more officers in
cluding a chief of staff, expecting that
the request would be granted without
question
The last of April one officer arrived
and was assigned to the destroyer
base at Queenstown, Admiral Sims
said, but no word came from the de-
partment regarding his reiterated re-
quests for at least six assistants.
Throughout June he remained in ig-
norance of the departments plans and
received no further aid, the officer
said. An American civilian who had
resigned from the navy in 1914 to enter
in business in London volunteered to
assist him, the admiral said and this
man with his one aide comprised his
entire London staff.
My staff was then wholly made
quate to code and decode messages to
and from the. GsJnent" he COM
mented, much less to attempt to com
pile vitality necessary information.
In June medical officer was order
ed to his staff, the admiral said and
about the same time Secretary Daniels
cabled him authority 10 employ cleri-
cal assistance and spend any sums
needed for the discharge of his duties,
but nothing was done regarding the
officers he had asked semitic assist
him in his technical duties.
In repeated messages, Admiral Sims
said he urgently recommended shat a
special officer be detailed TO the Brit
ish admiralty to coordinate convoy
plans but never received an answer.
Finally he detached the captain from
a destroyer and assigned him to his
duty.
We had reached the limit or pnysi-
cal endurance Admiral Sims said.
we We're established IN two small
rooms at the embassy and dispatches
were pouring in on US every day. /
only wish that 1 Were capable of de-
scribing the conditions in my office
at this time
On July 7th, Captain n. C. Twining
was detailed to be his chief of staff.
the Admiral said, and another officer
was sent TO assist him. At this period
he said. continual differences with
the department We're demonstratin
the need of closer naison between his
office and Washington, the AdmfraI
said. due to his inability to send and
reply TO letters and cablegrams.
Throughout July he continually
warned the department that troop con-
voys were being endangered by lack
| of proper assistance abroad. the Ad-
miral said and protested against the
departments inclination 10 send hin,
young and inexperienced officers and
keep the older ones in home waters.