The New York herald., 1921-07-18
sims,s Policies vindicated.

"We. find that substantially all the
recommendations made by Hear Aomiral
Sims" the report OF the majority con-
tinues. during the first months Of our
participation in the war were later
adopted and put into practice by the
department after delays ranging from
a few weeks to year.
s'The conclusion seems inevitable that
had these delays In naval operations
not occurred the American Expedition
airy Forces might have brought about an
allied victory earlier than they actually
did; but the extent to which these de-
lays failed to shorten the war Is alto
gether conjectural."
1t Is found that advice for concentra-
ton against submarine warfare was not
followed by Secretary Daniels.
1T is difficult 10 explain" the major
ity report says further. such a nom
aggressive policy as Secretary Daniels
imposed upon the United States Navy
until 1t is recalled that less than two
months before we entered the war Pres
ident Wilson was trying to get Congress
TO declare status of armed neutrality.
whereby our merchantmen might defend
themselves by force of arms from ag-
gression.''
Calling attention to statements of
President Wilson. just before the war,
Of his inability to differentiate between
the belligerents." and that he had sug-
gested in January. 1917. peace without
victory" the majority report says:
The conclusion seems inevitable that
with such recent predispositions on the
part of the Administration. II was only
too natural that Its naval policy ut first
should be defensive rather than ag-
gressive.
I'VE are forced to conclude" the re-
port also remarks. that our naval un-
Preparedness. though great, was not the
principal reason that delayed action by
our naval forces. Inevitably the facts
force the conclusion that the principal
cause of their delay was the self-de-
fensive. non-aggressive and non-helpful
policy imposed on the navy by the Ad-
minstration through Secretary Daniels.
There seems to have been no realiza-
tion on the part of President Wilson
and of Secretary Daniels at the outset
of the war that the war would only
be won in conjunction with the Allies,
and that, therefore, the safety of the
United States depended absolutely on
furnishing the Allies with the assistance
that could bring about victory
Asserting that the aggressive policy
finally adopted was due to the recon-
nnendations of Admiral Sims the report
says:
THE United States Navy wrote
chapter In its history which Is all the
more glorious because of the unnecessary
handicips under which 1t labored at
the outset"
Minority Applies whitewash.
In complete variance with the find
lngs OF the majority. Senators Pittman
and Trammell reached the following
conclusions In thei- renort
That the major charges made by
Admiral Sims. such as that the Navy
Department by delays prolonged the
war four months. caused the loss of
2,50o,o0o tons of shipping. 500, 900 lives
and the needless expenditure of $751;
ooo,0o0.o00, were entirely dIsproved.
That the few charges which ap-
peared to have some justification in
fact. such as that for time Admiral
Sims was not furnished all the stan he
desired or needed. are so trivial In
comparison with the vast operations
ana great activities of the navy during
the war that they hardly deserve
serious consideration.
That In no instance was II shown
that any or all of .he delays or mill
ta-y errors alleged by Admiral Sims
had any serious or material effect on
the general results.
Nhitc no navy ii lVO per cent
perfect. the United States Navy was
as well prepared for war as was any
otne- navy at our entrance into the war.
That at no time did the navy fail
10 perform promptly and efficiently
every task that was imposed upon II.
That In its major operations the
United States Navy made a record
never before equalled in history.
That the navy exhibited an energy
and efficiency never equailed.
That instead of censure or criticism.
the entire navy. the Department as we'll
as the service. deserves the hearty COM
mendation OF this committee and of the
American people"