The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-03-13
Admiral Sims Says He Was
Left in the Dark as to vi
tai Naval Oper-
ations.
TESTIMONY IS RESUMED
Herbert Hoover on Stand Today Said
Submarine Campaign Was
Most Dangerous
Menace.
[By Raymond Clapper, United Press
Staff CORRESPONDENT.

'lBy Raymond Clapper. United Press
! Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Mar. 13.-Rear Ad
miral William S. Sims today declared
that the navy department left him in
the dark as to vital naval operations
during critical days of the war, there
iby leading to delay and confusion and
causing allied naval officials in Europe
to lose confidence in the American
naval head there.
Resuming his testimony before the
senate naval affairs subcommittee
Sims declared that he first learned o1
at least dozen important naval move
ments, incidentally, through British
or French naval officials or through
private letters from friends in Ameri
| ca ~
Sending of surplus anti-strbma rjne
craft to European waters would have
greatly aided the allies at danger
GUS period" Of the war, Herbert Hoov'
er testified today, supporting conten'
tions Of Sims as to the critical allied
situation in the spring of 1917.
Submarine sinkings were so great
in this period as to endanger the out
come of the war, Hoover declared
Whether the navy could have done
more to meet the situation in Europe,
Hoover declined to state.
Specific cases in which he received
official information belated if at all,
were cited by Sims as follows:
Agreement as to disposition of
American naval forces made at Wash
ington between British, French and
American governments, by which the
fC not tho m
can side of the Atlantic and undertake
other tasks.
2-Decision to establish naval cases
ut Brest and Bordeaux.
3-Sending of the first patrol force
to French waters. Two yachts arrlV-
ed at Brest three days before Sims
was officially advised of their sailing,
he said.
4-Dispatch of the first naval avia.
ton unit to France. Failure to be ad.
vised in advance of this move result
ed in the men landing in France with
out adequate arrangements for receiV-
ing them, Sims said. ..
5-Sailing OF second destroyer
group. Sims learned of the fact three
days later.
6-Shipment of one hundred cannon
to France on board two naval colliers.
7-Discussion in washington OF
plans for a mine barrage across the
North sea.
S-Dispatch of twenty-five patrol
vessels in May, 1917.
9-Sailing of fifth destroyer group.
1O-Decision of navy department to
give France fifty to 100 submarine
chasers.
11-Ordering of four destroyers
rom New York, May %, 1917. (
12-Arrival of the Dixie few hours
after learning of her sailing from New
York. This ship ran unharmed
through a newly laid mine field Off
queenstown.
13-Disposition of destroyers cross
ng with first American troop trans.
)ortS.
Hoover said the war would have
,ome to an end almost in a moment
lad allied food supplies been cut OF.
"The situation was dangerous. al
most beyond description, and l can't
,vere remnhasize the dangerous posi-.
ion the allied cause was in," Hoover
aid.
THE supply of breadstuffs was most
:ritical and did not exceed three to
our weeks reserve stocks. The re-
ult was to create the utmost anxiety
IN the other side, as at the rate Of
inkings then taking place, the war :
lad debatable end
"If sinkings had gone on at the rate
f 100000 tons month, could the al.
les have gone on7" Chairman Hale (
.sked.
"My personal opinion is that they |
ould not, but l want to reserve my /
Judgment because by strict denial the I
lilies might have met the situation. |
hey were never reduced to the final
tate of privation, although they were
n the serious borderiand. not only at
Continued on page ~