Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-18
5NS EXONERA1ED
IN SENATE INQUIRY.
..,,,ral's Charges Of Naval I'm
oaredness and Inefficiency
4 Are Sustained
n.NleLs IS CRITICIZED

warrington. July 1S. - there Sor wore
,',ad OF, the shelves OF .r %
sss naval history yeeterday wv
ksn .,ly contradictory reports ,r"ssa ~
uss;csi evidence obtained by .i. oenh'r
en;tt em,n;ttee which conducted an inqvW,,s nqW,,
~. .hs charges by Rear Admirai WI
70 "a Sims that the United ~Ststes ~
.n, sm 'under the direction OF Josepnuss Jps
EaY, was not prepared for war ana
y n,st moi function efficiently during 'ne
,;s,ority report. signed by three
Inss, Ins,;.sn Senntors. was. for the most
bepupnscv scvere arraignment of the poll :
r, 'rorformnnces Of President WIZ
ues snJ Secretary Daniels; caustic
~ ~" - crrors of omission ana COM
fseln, a grave charge Of pacihstic
l.sso lnso..rce TO grasp the warnings OF the
pdinasis embodiment Of the United
pe.l.sonf p. ~ a perslstent failure to grasp
hts, ;rnort of Americas naval re-
pe ul,S,,,tIes in the death grapple with
n.rmsn y boat of a stubborn re !,
pe ~ the counsel of allied ana
dssn d naval experts. and OF having
n.,;buted TO the prolonging OF tne
,vith consequence OF unnecessary
IA .isttinz on Europe's battleheids.
m n.,,oer,ts Challenge Sims Views
rr. r,,nority report, bearing sigma
lns two Democratic Senators, chal-
Pic svsrv statement made by Ad-
Gins. whose memorable critique,
ns,.S ITsertain Naval Lessons OF the
uuw ws,n proyoked the senatorial
.nd constituted In large meas
Doum hada Of tho findings Of the Re-
s,ia., members of the investigating
"slstee The Democrats held the
np9 \, he conclusive that the fleet was
". g.h. highest state Of efficiency and
W.,r Department better organ
~ md md more efficient than ever before
x rs history
Aansbt In either report was the sug-
.vT ..s;sn NJ the Republican majority for
.nnoIntment BY the President OF CON-
sgpsion of civilian and uniformed Of
80. a, the navy to study various sug-
ssstions for a more practical ana et-
xeisnt organization OF the naval estap-
Hshment, some Of the faults now ex,
tent being regarded as Fundamental
ssd serious.
'I Study Of Evidence Urged
The majority report urged also. that
NJ eecretary Of the Navy appoint a
professional commission to study the
sridence disclosed by the inquiry, as well
- other public and confidential mate
r;sI. with q view to the prepara-
Non OF confidential document
mbodylng the lessons OF the great
ur for possible use or guidance in the
hture. BY the latter recommendation,
Ne majority report would say. in effect,
b the officer personnel Of the navy, that
by well mi gLt take to heart many
iAines snid by Admiral Sims.
The majority report was primarily
4 criticism of the civilian directors Of
naval policy-Prcsident Wilson and
Secrctary Daniels. II was not intended
10 be critical Of the officer personnel,
ashore or Mt sea, but Admiral vii.
liam 8. Benson, who was chief of naval
operations came in for the commit =
tees disapproval in its general con-
d,nnation of administrative policies.
There were numerous references to the
fAc that In setting aside the recon-
hsndations Of Admiral Sims in 1917
Nr, Daniel adhered to the counsel Of
Admiral Benson. Also IL was asserted
Admiral Sims ''lessons Of the great
war were indorsed by tho testimony
d all Of Secretary Daniels witnesses
ueept Admiral Benson.
Not only did the majority report con :
cur In Admiral Sims conclusions that
the navy was not ready from stem to
hsrn," as asserted by Mr.. Daniels, and
that when anything was done at all i'm
mediately after our entering the war, II
generally was the wrong thing TO do
but that there was tragic phase of the
Reeretary's refusal to base the 1916
naval program on destroysrs, chasers
and other anti submarine units instead
T on battleships and cruisers and his
allure, even after April 9, 1917-ths
day this country declared war on Ger
nany-to give priority in construction
end repair facilities to preparation oi
ent.submarine craft.