Show SAYS NAVY NOT READY I 1 FOR ACTION I II I Admiral Testifies That Even I After Outbreak of War Department Was Indifferent ent to Recommendations ons By fly A Associated Press W TON BASHING TON April 1 i Charges es t that at the navy department department depart depart- ment had made no effort from rom 1915 to 1917 1017 to prepare paro ships skips of the Pacific Pacific Pacific Pa Pa- fleet for war were made before the thc Senate naval investigation in on committee com corn today by Rear Admiral cornI William Wilham Wil Wil- Wil-I Wil I liam ham F. F Fullam who commanded ded that force and directed all allied naval operations operations operations op op- op- op in Pacific waters during the war ar Armored cruisers In reserve on the Pacific coast were Wore not made ready the officer asserted despite his ro repeated re recommendations and It was only by ui n naval apprentices at trai training schools that he was was able before tho war wu- to got get the vessels away from the tho docks for port training training- cruises Even after the outbreak of war in Europe ho he said the department was indifferent er- er ent enl to the tho recommendations of senior officers that steps Stepa be taken taken to pre pro par pare Tho The admiral testified that it was was I only by going over Secretary Daniels' Daniels I head and sending letters and outlines of ot plans and policies direct to Assistant Assistant Assistant Assist Assist- ant Secretary Roosevelt that a sympathetic sympathetic attitude could bo be obtained for tor preparedness measures The Tho committee adjourned until Monday Monday Mon Mon- day when Admiral Hugh Rodman commander commander com corn mander In la chief chiet of at the tho Pacific fleet probably will testify Fletcher Blamed For Transport Loss Washington April 1 Less Lo Loss s of or the transport Antilles off oft the tho l French coast coastin in October 1917 1017 was attributed directly direct direct- ly h to Admiral William JB B. B Fletchers Fletcher's alleged nIles disregard of or Instructions from Vice Admiral Sims In testimony to today today to- to da day by Captain B. B C. C Long operations officer on Sims' Sims st staff t at London before before before be be- fore the naval board Investigating Investigating- Admiral Ad- Ad miral Fletchers Fletcher's removal from tho tIm Bret Brest command When rhen the Antilles was struck by a Do torpedo tho the con o convoy was proceeding in file Captain Long Iong testified ad adding adding ad ad- ding that this was the most dangerous danger danger- ous Otis possible formation Admiral Fletcher ho said had previously b been cn ordered b by Admiral Sims to Issue gen gen- Continued on page 2 2 SAYS U. U S. S NAVY MAVY NOT MUT READY FOR ACTION Continued from Page Pago 1 era oral eral como convoy Instructions pre prescribing Cline n C line abreast forma formation lion No 1 such In Instructions instructions In- In he said sald ever cr were Issued Every Ever convoy that sailed from th the French coast during A Admiral Fletchers Fletcher's Fletch Fletch- ors or's command at Brest t. t Captain Lon Long declared proceeded in column formation formation forma forma- tion which mado made them particularly vulnerable vulnerable to lo submarine attack Tho The fact that a lino formation with flanks of ot the convoy protected was safer should have been evident o on Its face tace tho the witness said Admiral Admiral Ad d When hen it became evident from miral Fletchers Fletcher's operation orders and reports to London from transport commanders commanders com com- manders and other Bo sources that he hn had hadnot hadnot 1 not adopted a comprehensive ho doctrine for tor Captain Long testified Commander Daniels a staff officer at London was sent Bent to Brest Breston Dreston on September 12 with a 1 memorandum explaining the elements clements that should hould be ha embraced in such tuch a doctrine Although h this specifically la lays s 's down regulations as to position of ot escorting ships speed and routing of ot convoys con minimum escort required and manipulations under under under un un- un- un der attack all imperative imperative- to safeguard operations no general In Instruction instruction tn- tn 1 on oa these things were Issued by Admiral Fletcher to his oy com corn manders Captain Long said sald ho he had personally recommended to Admiral Sims on September September September Sep Sep- 20 that Admiral Fletcher bo be transferred from Brest to Gibraltar It was as a month later and following the loss of ot the Antilles that 1 Fletcher was relieved etl and sent home Under cross Captain Long maintained that there weN no Instructions from Admiral Sims that could not have havo been carried out b by Admiral Ad Ad- miral Fletcher Flelcher with tho the force at his command |