Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-07-18

$ letter sharply criticising the
changed from that of the offida,
whose conduct before and during 191 +
we nave been obliged to criticise so
| sharply
The "Primary Motive"
:, The majority report stated that the
conclusion seems unavoidable that
upon our entering the war and for
many months thereafter. the primary
| motlye of the administration was not
| to do everything possible to helm win
| the war with the allies and against
germany, but rather, does the pre-
| dominant purpose of the administra-
| non seem to have been to look to the
future of the United States apart from
the allies in case the latter might be
defeated Or in case peace without
victory might be made"
:. The majority declared further that
we are forced to conclude that orr
! naval unpreparedness though great
was not the principal reason. Thar
DELAYED action by the United States
naval forces as "inevitably the facts
force the conclusion that the princinsl
cause of their delay was the feIf de-
lens1Fe. non aggressive, non helpful
pohcy imposed on the navy BY the
adm!nstration through Secretary
Daniels
Credit For Conveys.
The majority report on the direct
issues between the naval secretary and
Admiral Sims had this to say:
we flnd that to large degree to
head Admiral Sims belongs the credit
ior bringing about the convoy system.
we find that Rear Admiral Sims
was not kept properly advised "a To
the policy of the department or as IN
the forces being sent him: that b;s
requests were not acceded to readily
ana remained long unanswered and
that he was not provided with an ade-
quate staff
we find that his general lack Of
support on the part of the navy depart
ment greatly embarrassed and DELAYED
MS negotiations with the allied naval
commanders.
"Admial Sims was justified in oppos-
ing the laying of the North Sea mine
oarrage during the first few months of
Tue war when available mines were
Iater Sims advocated
and did everything in his mower to com
plete the construction of the great
barragel
Recommendations Adoped.
=, We find that substantially all Of
me |. recommendations made by Rear
Admiral Sims during the first months
Or the war We're later adopted. afrer
delays ranging from a few weeks =,
4 year." ~
The minority summarized it's find
ngs as follows:
That the major charges made hp
ADMIRAL Sims. such as that the nav
department. by delays. prolonged tha
var four months. caused the loss NJ
100000 tons of shipping, 5000 lives
Ind ,nd 1 me needless expenditure of SIS
were entirely disproyed
That the few charges which apnear-
d to have some justification in fact
uch AS that for time Admiral Sims
vas not furnished all the staff he de-
ired or needed-are so trivial in com.
with the vast operations and
reat activities of the navy during the
var, that they hardly deserve serious
consideration.
Error Charges Approved.
Ihat In no instance was it shown
hat any or all of she DELAYS or smil;-
ary errors alleged by Admiral Sims
al any serious or material effect on
he general results.
mat. while no navy is ever 100 Der
ent efficient. the United States navy
as SO fully prepared for war as any
ar.
THAT. at no time did the navy fail
perform promptly and efficiently
very task that was imposed upon It.
That, i'll its major operations, such
making possible the Transportation
100000 American soldiers across
he Atlantic without the loss of
'ldier on an American troop shin
,und for France. the United States
avy made record never before
Iualled in history.
'That. in its manifold activities no.
lily in operations and transportation
1t in shipbuilding, in recruiting and
aiming a personnel Of over half a
illion men, the navy exhibited an
lergy and efficiency never excelled.
Wisdom u Proved.
THAT the uniform success of aur
erations amply demonstrated the
sdom of the policies adopted and the
ans carried out BY the navy depart
,nt and its responsible officials in
e conduct of the war.
THAT instead of censure or critic
n, the entire navy--the department
well as the service-deserye the
arty commcndation Of this commit
J and Of th4 American people.
snnn