New-York tribune., 1920-01-19
Secretary's Denial Is
Made in a Letter to
Chairman Page of the
Naval Affairs Committee
Accusations Based
On Opinion, He Says
Admiral Benson Called to
Washington; He May
Be Witness at Hearing

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1s. "A
sweeping inquiry into the entire
conduct Of the American Navy dur
ing the war, with particular refer
ence to the grave charges of lack
of cooperation extended the over
seas forces, disclosed by Rear Ad-
miral Sims in his startling testi.
mony before the Senate sub-com.
mlttee yesterday, is expected to be
ordered by the full Senate Conn
mittee on Naval Affairs when it
meets tomorrow morning.
Secretary Daniels tonight de-
clared that he did not instruct Ad-
miral Sims mot to let the British
pull the wool over his eyes" and
that the United States would as
soon fight the British as the Ger
MANS His denial was made in a
letter to Chairman Page, of the SEN
ate Committee on Naval Affairs. He
did not reveal who gave the instruc-
tions, which Admiral Sims has
charged were given him by high
official.
Calls Charges Unjustifed
The Secretary informed Senator
Page that the Sims letter criticizing
the navy had been referred to the
General Board Of the Navy for ac-
ton. He added that the allegations
rejecting on the navy's prosecution
of the war would at "the proper
time be shown to have been based
on opinion and to have been with.
out justification.
Admiral Sims's letter, charging
that Secretary Of the Navy Daniels
and his associates in Washington.
through lack Of cooperation with the
forces IN foreign waters, had pro-
longed the war, will be laid before
the Senate Committee tomorrow bv
Chairman Hale, of the sub-com-
mIttee, in an executive session. The
committee will be urged to present
to the Senate, when it conyenes aft
noon, resolution authorizing
thorough investigation of the ravy's 4
part in the war
Publicity a Duty
The statement Of Admiral Sims
that verbal orders issued to him on
the eve of his departure for Europe
reflected directly upon the British
will be gone into thoroughly by the
Senate, it was believed TO-DAY.
Senators frankly admitted that the
charges made by the Commander
in-Chief Of the American sea forces
in the battle zone call for the most
searching inquiry. The sensational
charges advanced by Senator Cham
berlaln covering the blunders Of the
War Department in the early part
of the war. Senators declared, are
regarded as far less startling than
the disclosures made by Admiral
Sims, and to bring the full details
before the public is held to be the
Senate's duty.
Charges Referred to Board
Secretary Daniels in his letter to
Chairman Page tonight said:
Il observe that Rear Admiral Sims
on Saturday read to a subcommittee
Of the Naval Affairs Committee of the
Senate copy Of the paper recently
sent to the Department. which he en-
titled Certain Naval Lessons of the
Great War
e original of this has been re-
ferred to the General Board of the
navy for action. AT the proper time
and IN the proper way any fair minded
lnvesS gator will be convinced that the
allegations rejecting upon the vigor-
Gus, effective and successful prosecu-
ton OF the war so far as the Navy De-
partment and the entire navy are con-
cerned are based upon opinions which
are without justification.
Daniels Disclaims Responsibility
ut is not my purpose at this time
to comment on the letter as whole.
but one passage is of such a nature
having bearing as it does upon inter
national relations, that | wish to say
that never to Rear Admiral Sims did
| say:
"'Don't let the British pull the wool
over your eyes. 1t is none of our bust
ness pulling their chestnuts out of the
fire. We would as soon fight the Brit
ish as the Germans
"In the latter part OF March. 1917,
after relations had been broken off
with Germany and the American navy
had begun to arm merchant ships.
Rear Admiral Sims was summoned TO
Washington. He was informed by me
that he had been selected to go to
London as special and confidential rep
resentative of the Navy Department.
He was given explicit verbal instruc-
tions to visit the American Ambassa-
dor at London. to get in touch with the
British Admiralty. to investigate the
sinkngs by submarines and the stu
alton generally and to infrom the Navy
Department fully. OF course his mis-
sion was confidential. as the United
States was then n neutral