The Washington herald., 1922-11-03
Roosevelt and Sims Cast Aside
Red Tape to Push Navy Program
Interesting Relations Between Two Comes to
Light in.Navy Day Recollections.

heCcnt generation OIL navy Ddy IN
the United States brought to light
many interesting anecdotes on Theo-
dore Roosevelt, whose birthday
marked part of the joint celebration
of the day. Admiral Sims, recently
retired, came in for his share in the
days comments through his close
relations with the late President
No two men did more for the navy
than Roosevelt and Admiral william
Sowden Sims. When Roosevelt be-
came Assistant Secretary of the
Navy. Sims was a naval attache in
Paris. Prior to Roosevelt's appoint
ment he had bombarded the Navy
Department with criticisms of the
United States navy's gunnery meth
DDS. the ship designs and the weak
armor protection on gun turrets.
The results had not been enourac =
ing. But when Roosevelt took his;
Office as Assistant Secretary, some
attention was paid to Sims criticism.
A sort of partnership to rescue the
navy sprang up between Sims and
Roosevelt. and results were accom-
plished during the time Roosevelt
remained in the Navy Department.
Later Roosevelt left the Navy De-
partment and became President
Once more Sims found his reports to
his superiors ignored. Then he
committed an act Of conspicuous in
subordination.
His relations with Roosevelt have
been written by dmirai Sims for
McClure's Magazine. Four articles
have been prepared, the first ap-
pearing in the November issue. The
second. third and fourth articles
will appear in the December. Janu-
AIRY and February issues.
OF his act of characterization,
which resulted in the improvements
that give the navy the position it
occupies today, Admiral Sims writes
in McClure's for November:
Appealing 10 the President.
l wrote again and again and at
length the naval authorities at
Washington did not take the trouble
to acknowledge the communications
In desperation | prepared a re-
port on gunnery in the fleet and
mailed it to PRESIDENT Roosevelt. 1t
was insubordination. to be sure. but
I could see no other way of getting
anything done. The President re-
ceived and studied the report and
send for me at once and give me d
chance to prove my contentious.
From the time that Roosevelt left
the department. less and less atteD-
tion was given to my reports, which
by this time had reached a total of
about 1000 pages. Eut the Navy
Department did not wish to he dis
turbed by new ideas. The men there
applied with great practically that
passage in the Good Book which
says:
''All the rivers run into the sea;
vet the sea is not full; unto the
place from whence the rivers came.
thither they return again.
THE thing that hath been. il is
that which shall be: and that which
is done is that which shall be done;
and there is no new thing under the
sum-"
This the department interpreted
to mean:
I'VE are all right: and If were
not. we don't want to hear about It.
Sims Records "Disappear."
And SO the reports mysteriously
disappeared from the files, and my
successor at Paris WA; instructed to
burn the twenty two letter-pcess
books containing copies left ut the
embassy in Paris. when conserva-
tism goes far enough to de ;troy o..
GviaI Dub'ic documents to prevent
the discovery of inefiiciency, some
thing has to be done.
1t was. of course, only after every
possible Legitimate channel of pro-
test had been tried and found want
ing, and after careful reflection had
convinced me that it was my duty
to risk my personal fortunes rather
than continue to see the ships of
our navy lying at the mercy of pos
sible foes. that acceded to the
suggestion of Comdr Key, the
brother-in-law OF Gen. Leonard
Wood, to carry the fight over the
heads of the bureaus direct to Presi-
ing the letter in an envelope with a
personal note to the Presidents Sec
.retary. Mr.. Cortelyou. My letter
was as follows:
u, s. S. New York,
China Station,
November 16, 1901.
"Sir: :E
II beg that ] may be pardoued for
the liberty L take in Addressing you
a Dersnnal letfar. and sny nply eY,