The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-05-11
DELAYS WERE
Due TO SIMS,
SAYS DANIELS
Secretary Asserts Barrage
Idea Originated in U: S.
Navy Department and Was
Fought by Admiral.
BELIEVED THE BRIT AIMS
(By Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, May 11.-A coun-
ter charge that establishment or the
North Sea mine barrage was delayed
six months because of the opposl-
tion of Rear-Admiral Sims and the
British admiralty, was made before
the senate naval investigating COM
mittee today by Secretary Daniels IN
presenting the second part OF his re-
ply to the officers charges that the
navy department had unnecessarily
prolonged the war through failure TO
cooperate fully at first with allied
naval forces. The barrage, Mr.. Dan
iels added, was the most effective
measure that had been taken to
check the submarines and was wholly
an American idea.
The secretary also charged that
Sims had attempted in his testimony
to rob the navy of credit for this
project and to give it to the British.
Urged for Long Time
This plan was conceived, he SAID,
in the bureau of ordnance at the navy
department and urged on the British
admiralty for six months before it
was accepted During this time Ad-
miral Sims constantly discouraged
and opposed the idea, he added, and
and finally convinced the admiralty
of the worth of the scheme and the
necessity for adopting it, Admiral
Sims attempted to convey the i'm
preston that the project had been de-
layed while the British attempted to
get the American navy department S
approval.
Admiral Sims attempted to rob
America and the United States navy
Cf the credit for initiating this great
achievement and to give you the i'm
preston that it was British plan
which our navy merely assisted in
carrying out though it originated in
the navy department, was proposed
and urged by us for half a year be
fore we could induce the British ad
miralty to approve it and although
four fifths of it was composed of
American mines designed and con-
structed in America and transported
3.400 miles over seas and laid by
American vessels" Mr.. Daniels told
the committee. He said close com
radeship had existed between the
American and British navies during
the war, despite Admiral Sims at
tempts to create the impression that
there was lack of harmony and CO.
operation.
Prepared. He Says
The Sims charges of unprepared
ness before the war were not justi
fled, Mr.. Daniels asserted, declared
that on July Is, he ordered the gen
eral board to study and recommend
plans for a consistent and progres
sive development.
AS result of this study the
policy was evolved. he said, that the
United States must by 1925 have a
navy equal to any other in the world
He approved this policy and the di
rect result was the five year building
program Of 1916, the secretary said
an experimenting measure" Presi
dent Wilson fully approved the policy
the witness asserted
This is conclusive evidence that
the navy department long before wal
was declared was alive to the i'm
nortance of preparedness and was
taking every step toward that end, he
declared
The vision of the president, Mr.
Daniels asserted, established the fact
that he was lin advance of some of
ficers. vocal now, but silent then"