U.S. NAVAL INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 196, 14 May 1920, Page 7

U.S. NAVAL INQUIRY

« " BRITISH ADMIRALTY TOO CAUTIOUS" l j DEALING WITH SUBMARINE i DANGER d t a By Telegraph—Proßß Association—Copyright (Reo. May 13, 5.5 p.m.) ~ j 1 ' Washington, May 12. i" Sensational- disclosures are contained in the evidence of Mr. Daniels More • -tho Naval Investigation Committee. A l telegram which President Wilson Gent g to the British Admiralty disclosed the fact that he was not satisfied with the way in which the Admiralty was direct-, ° ing the work of the British Navy. Pre- . 6ident Wilson was unable to understand j why the British experts were unwilling „ to allow the American Naval Department f to toll them how things ought to he done. ; He considered tho Admiralty too cautious :" nn having failed to use its great naval superiority against submarines, and askl ed Admiral Sims for independent suggesD tions as if the British Admiralty, did not 8 exist. In a message to Admiral Sims, e President Wilson -said' the Admiralty np- ■? peared helpless to the point of panic in the face of the submarine danger. Ad--0 miral Sims's reply to President Wil- ? son's telegram, according to Mr, Daniels. lC merely recited generalities'as-to what ;e the, Admiralty actually "ere accomplish--0 ing. letters written by Admiral Sims ; " to Mr. Page. Ambassador in London, 0 pointed out that President Wilson cviu, dontly regarded Admiral Sims as owned '!' body and soul by the British Admiralty, lt: and seriously considered his replacement 6 by another officer more amenablo to the i 0 American Naval Department. Answering ? President Wilson's charge that tho Bri- !" tish were too cautious", Admiral Sims out- '' lined a combined land and sea attack on ?' tho Belgian coast, including a Zeebrugge , landing. Admiral Sims expressed the '* opinion that this was sufficiently audaci- , ou's to ploase even President Wil6on.. Ad- * miral Sims, according to Mr. Daniels, disapproved of the American plans deal,J ing with, submarines as impracticable. " They had already been' tested by Britain '„ and found unworkable. Mr. Daniels as- \ sertcd that Admiral Sims was so hypnot--1 ised by the Admiralty that he tried to 1 luro the President into feeling tlmt.regarding fuburo developments, the United '" States could always reply on the British Navy—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn.