Secret Orders.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 126, 12 May 1920, Page 5

Secret Orders.

U.S. HAVY’B INSTRUCTIONS.

PRESIDENT’S WORDS TO THE FLEET’.

MB. DANIEL’S DISCLOSURES

(By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.]

(Received 12, 9.55.) U ashuigton, .Muy 11. Air. J. Daniels (.\uval Secretary) has disclosed President Wilson’s secret Instructions to the Navy delivered aboard the Atlantic Fleet on 11th August, 1917. President Wilson ordered the officers to throw tradition to the winds and strike the word "prudent” out of their vocabularies, and act audaciously to the utmost point of risk and daring. Alluding to the British Admiralty statements that certain things had never been done, President Wilson pointed out that this was just the reason why the American Navy ought to attempt them. President Wilson, in referring to the submarine menace, said he was willing to sacrifice half the American and British navies if only he could destroy the German hornets nest. President Wilson announced his willingness to place himself at the disposal of any officer of the navy who could show him how the war was to be won. President Wilson concluded, without disparagement of other navies, by saying he hoped things would begin to "happen when the American Navy began to light. ,Mr Daniels asserted that Admiral Sims and the British Admiralty combined delayed the North Sea mine barrage for six months. Adiqiral Sims attempted to give the impression that the plan originated with Britain, whereas the Navy Department ought to get tne credit.—(A. and N.Z.)

BRITAIN AND SIMS

ALL WRONG AGAIN

(Received 12, 11 a.m.) Washington, May 11. Mr. Daniels told the Senate’s Naval Investigation Committee to-day that President Wilson was dissatisfied with the manner in whicli England and her Navy managed their end_of the war up to the summer of 1917, and so expressed himself in a confidential message to the United States fleet then. President Wilson said: “Every we have suggested anything the British Admiralty has replied that it had never been done that way before. 1 felt like saying that nothing was ever done so systematically, as nothing was nowbeing done. I was willing to sacrifice half the Navy of the United States and Britain together in order to crush the submarine nest.” It took six months, continued Mr. Daniels, to get British approval for the North Sea mine barrage, which would have been adopted much earlier had Admiral Sims urged it, instead of airing his own objections.—(A. and N.Z.)