New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-18
Subcommittee Majority
Asserts A AdmiraI Did
Navy and Nation Great
Service by Criticism
Within His Rights
In Citing Faults
Wilson and His Secretary
Condemned for DELAYS
in Wars Critical Time
From The Tribune's Washinoton B,.re,

FROM J. ne 1T10unc'S washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, July 17.-Rear Ad-
miral William S. Sims is given COM
plete and sweeping vindicaton in the
majority report of the Senate Naval
Affairs sub committee which investi-
gated the famous Sims-Daniels con-
troversy. The report of the majority
of the subcommittee, along with the
minority report, was made public to-
night.
The majority report is signed by
Senators Hale, of Maine; Ball, of Della
ware, and Keyes, of New Hampshire,
Republican members of the sub-com-
mittec. 1t upholds the course of Ad-
miral Sims in the most emphatic fash
ion. The minority report is signed by
Senators Pittman, CT Nevada, end
Trammell, of Florida, Democrats. 1t
sustains former Secretary of the Navy
Daniels.
Daniels's Report Belied
The assertion of former Secretary
Daniels that the navy was ready for
war from stem to stern" when this
is f1atly belied by the finding Of the
majority report. Taken in it's entirety,
the majority report, which is a COM
prehensive document, is a blistering
condemnation of the naval policy of the
Wllson-Daniels regime in the early
period of the war, and particularly in
the period from the time war was de-
clared until about the close of 1917
The report of the subcommittee re-
lates to the merits of the criticisms of
naval policy of this government in the
World War made by Admiral Sims in
letter which he sent to Mr.. Daniels
urder date of January 7, 1920.
The letter discussed Certain naval
lessons of the great war" On jam
uary Z, 1920, while the Hale sub
fairs Committee was investigating the
controversy over naval awards, Ad-
miral Sims presented and read to the
subcommittee a copy of this letter
1t was comprehensive criticism of
alleged numerous mistakes and errors
made by the Navy Department, headed
by Mr.. Daniels, in the conduct of the
war. 1t raised great stir not alone
in naval circles, but in Congress and
throughout this country and Europe.
The subcommittee was directed by
the Naval Affairs Committee of the
Senate to investigate and report on
the matters referred to in Admiral
Sims's letter, and the present report,
including the majority and the minor
ity findings, grows out of the inquiry.
The report of the majority of the
subcommittee constitutes a document
of 1856 printed pages, and because of
the facts it gives with respect to the
~ %ol, H., ~ Iv:t
in the war is certain to have increas-
ing historic value as the years pass by.
The minority report alone contains
eighty printed pages and also is an in
teresting document.
Dealing specifically with the conduct
of Rear Admiral Sims, apart from
questions of naval policy, the majority
ing his course:
"First-We find that Rear Admiral
Sims not only was within his rights
in writing as he did to the Secretary
of the Navy on January z, 1920, con-
cerning certain naval lessons of the
war, but we find, also, that as Rear
Admiral Sims was in a very respon
sble position during the war and
knew that important lessons could be
learned from his observations, it was
his duty to write as he did, making
frank and confidential criticism to
the Secretary of the Navy.
"Second-We find that in making
his criticism, as in his letter of Jan
uary 7, 1920, Rear Admiral Sims in
tended to serve the navy and the ma
tion and that he did render great
service, in addition to his service
during the war by pointing out naval
conditions and mistakes which were
not realized and which should be cor
rected in order that henceforth the
navy may be still better servant of
the nation.
"Third-We find that Rear Admiral
Sims acted with entire propriety in
reading his letter of January 7, 1920,
before the subcommittee of the SEN
ate Committee on Naval Affairs when
the chairman of the subcommittee
called upon Rear Admiral Sims to
read it to the subcommittee"
Daniels's Mistaken Policy
The majority report, in an exhaustive
review of the Daniels naval policy un-
(Cnnf