ADMIRAL SIMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18308, 19 January 1920, Page 6

ADMIRAL SIMS.

SENSATIONAL ALLEGATIONS* UNITED STATES AND THE WAIL By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyrighl Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received January 18, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, January 17. Rear-Admiral Sims caused a sensation by statements to the Senate Committee which is investigating his complaint concerning wholesale awards of war decorations to undeserving officers.

He declared that when he was ordered to England in March, 1917, prior to the entry of the United States into the war, the Navy Department instructed him “ not to let the British pull the wool over your eyes*” ; also, “ We would \just as soon fight the British as the Central Powers.” Rear-Admiral Sims added that the United States Navy Department did not co-operate with him when ho was in London. It was .really ten months before the United States were of any. assistance to the Allies, or thought of acting on their recommendations. Tho Navy Department demanded to gee all the plans of operations against tho enemy, even when delays were dangerous.

(A cable message from Washington, dated December 23, said: —Admiral Sims wrote a letter to Mr Daniels (Secretary of the Navy) refusing to accept the Distinguished Service Medal, on tho ground that other naval officers had been inadequately rewarded. The letter points out that the Navy Department awarded honours in many instances contrary to Admiral Sims’s recommendations. Both the Senate and the House Naval Committees suggested an inquiry into the awards of medals to those in the naval service. A subsequent message statedßear-Admiral Decker, a former American Naval Attache at Madrid, in a letter to Mr Daniels, refusing to accept a naval honour award, points out that Spain was prevented from entering the war through the effort of American naval officers at Madrid during the great German offensive in March, 1918. Several other high naval officers have written to Mr Daniels, refusing to accept decorations, on the same ground as that taken by Admiral Sims. Mr Daniels has ordered the reconvention of the Naval Board to reconsider the honours awards. It is understood that President Wilson will be asked to pass them upon the board’s recommendation. A Congressional committee will also investigate the matter.)