THE BRITISH NAVY

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14363, 14 May 1920, Page 5

THE BRITISH NAVY

MR WILSON NOT SATISFIED, ■\VJTH ITS WORK IN WARTIME. HOW THINGS OUGHT TO BE DONE. (Australian and N.Z. Gable. Asn.) Received May Id, 5.5 p.m. WASHINGTON, May .13. There were sensational disclosures hi Mr Daniel’s evidence before Hie Senate Investigation Gommitlee. A telegram which Mr Wilson sent to the British Admiralty disclosed Mud Mr Wilson was pot satisfied with the way the Admiralty was directing Hie British Navy’s work. Mr Wilson being unable to understand why the British experts were unwilling to allow the Washington Naval Department to tell them how things ought to be done. Mr Wilson considered the Admiralty too cautious, and failed to use its great naval superiority against the submarines, and he asked Admiral Sims for independent suggestions, as if the British Admiralty did not exist. Mr Wilson commented in ids message to the 'Lillies Dial the Admiralty appeared helpless to Hie point of panic in the face of the submarine danger. Admiral Sims, in reply to Mr Wilson’s telegram, merely recited generalities respecting what the Admiralty was actually accomplishing. Letters written by Admiral Sims to Mr Page, American Ambassador in London, pointed out that Mr Wilson evidently regarded Admiral Sims as owned body and soul by (lie British Admiralty, and seriously considered ins replan ment by another officer more amenable to the American Naval Dcparl moot. 1 Answering Mr Wilson’s charges to the effect that the British were too cautious, Admiral Sims outlined a combined land and sea attack on the Belgian coast, including Zccbrngge. . and landing there. This, in Admiral I Sims’ opinion, was sufficiently audacipu” I to please even Mr Wilson, j Admiral Sims, according lo Mr 1 Daniels, disapproved of the American j plans for dealing with submarines as I impracticable, as they had already been j tested by Britain and found unwoi’k- ■ able. Air Daniels asserted that Admiral Sims was so hypnotised by the Admiralty Hint lie tried to lure the President into the feeling that regarding future 1 developments, the United States could i always rely on the British Navy. Received May Li, 12.10 p.m. j WASHINGTON, May 13. j Mr Daniels alleged that he bad forgotten that the telegram on the subject of convoys had Been produced previi oitsly before the investigations Com- | rnittcc, when Admiral Sims, at the ini stance of Mr Daniels, denied a knowledge Gif the .document which in--1 structed Admiral Sims that American 1 | vessels would be safer when armed and sailing independently (ban when j convoyed. Admiral Sims declared that | tin* receipt of Ibis message made hint ready to .jump overboard.