Show I UI U. S. S S ROBBED J OF BOAT U-BOAT WAR AR CREDIT DANIELS Sims Left Investigations to British Admiralty Is Naval Secretary's Tale Talc I to Senatorial Inquisitors Br By Associated Pre TT Wi AT UN May 14 If Hear Hear ear earV V Y Admiral Sims robbed American destroyer crews of credit duo them by leaving the investigation of combats combats com corn bats with submarines to the British admiralty Secretary Daniels today told the Senate naval invest investigating gating committee Had he be known that American Amer Amer- jean ican officers were not reviewing the circumstances of battles between American vessels and U-boats U ho lie would have ordered the admiral to adopt that course courso the secretary said i aJ J yuL in BUCl n. n awarua or credit to the he Ame Americans ns were wore acce accepted ted b bf by Admiral Sims Mr Daniels said sald al although 1 though thouc-h th tha British demanded absolute absolute absolute lute conclusive proof giving credit for the sinking of ot a a. submarine In the case of an American vessel while using a n. less Jess rigorous standard in tho the of British ships ere Credits Allowed Allo Out of or attacks on submarines by American vessels the tho British gave e the United States forces credit for but twenty four successful attacks most of ot which listed were ere as possibly slightly damaged said gald Secretary Daniels In only one case was full lull credit for tor the sinking sinkIng- of ot a boat U-boat given I an nn American ship this being the tile destroyer Fanning which sunk the U 58 and captured the crew w wIn I In explaining why so 50 few credits were given for tor known the summary complied compiled b by Admiral Sims States that rI ro Q nr- nr wreckage g. g were obtained ta b fol fol- fol lowing loving an atta attack k It was practically lb Impossible to definitely determine the he results said Mr Daniels That prisoners or wreckage were not absolutely required before beCore a vessel was credited with ith sinking a submarine is shown b by the reports from the tho BritIsh Brit Brit- ish admiralty records s of oC cases classed as known sunk i Arc Cited Tho The secretary then road read records of ot encounters b between tween British ships and ancl submarines in Jn which credit was given for Cor sinking the submarine although neither prisoners nor wreckage were obtained I hI do not blame the British said Mr Daniels The They were looking out Continued on page 2 2 U US U.S. S. S LOST CREDIT OIT I IFOR FOR BOATS U-BOATS CLAIM Continued from Page Pago 1 for themselves proper properly but I do blame Admiral Sims for not protecting American AmerIcan American Amer Amer- ican Interests The United States navy nay Is not accustomed to having others de- de clde what credits shall bo he awarded to Its Ils men and vessels and I know of or no Instance in ht which an any other na navy has hai allowed this Admiral Sims' Sims own reports refuted I the charge made In hIs hla letter lotter of January January January Janu Janu- ary 7 that destroyers were rushed through brief and inadequate preparation preparation tion before being sent abroad the tho secretary secretary sec sec- said lie Ito real read extracts from Sims' Sims report as aA follows Our ships made no demands of ot consequence consequence con con- sequence sequence- upon the tho navy y yard ard facilities after niter arriving In of or tho the length of or their passage under adverse condi condl- on Equipment Contrary to expectations they wore were found to bo be bo bewell well equipped for tor their prospective duty lut with the exception of or depth charges Tho The equipment and con construction of ot our ships has proved adequate and ef of- of tiel en t. t Turning to Admiral Sims' Sims criticism that the tho navy was waR unprepared for tor war warIn warIn warin In April 1917 i Mr Daniels said that Admiral book on the tho battle of Jutland showed that not even tho the British na navy expecting every minute a n. decisive o battle could bo be kept per percent percent percent cent perfect U Ho quoted at length from the Jellicoe book to show that tho the British fleet had deficiency and weaknesses that sur sur- surprised the British people and that tho the Germans were actually superior in de destroyer destroyer de- de strength The American navy was not perfect he ho said eald but avoided many costly mistakes b by taking to heart tho experiences of ot other othor allies Proof of ot tho the navy departments department's efforts ef- ef ef efforts forts torts to prepare for tor war were contained contained con con- in tho the recommendations for tor appropriations appropriations ap ap- ap- ap from 1913 to 1917 and the organization in 1915 of or tho naval consulting consulting consulting con con- board with Thomas A. A Edison at Its head Mr Ir Daniels declared |