in
TQ) RIEF
Klu Hi
REEZY
BITS OF NEWS
P
MANIAC WITH AXE
KILLS 4, WOUNDS 2.
Brooklyn, Conn., Jan. 17. Victor
Lipponcnn, tged 38, a farmer of
West Brooklyn, ran amuck with an
axe, killed three persons, woUndcd
two others, caused the death of his
four-days-old baby, and then
hanged himself.
His first blow was for his wife,
who, although wounded, escaped by
rolling from the bed. A neighbor
woman who had attended Mrs. Lip
ponenne then was killed, her fall
ing body crushing the infant.
Hitching up"" a bobsled, the maniac
drove to two neighbor's homes. At
one he killed a man in sight of his
family and at the other fatally
wounded an 18-year-old girl anil
probably mortally injured her
mother.
OMAHA, THE GATE CITY OF THE WEST, OFFERS YOU GOLDEN OPPORTUNITIES.
JLJL1
Sunday Bee
VOL. XLIX NO.
1 Eiitwwl u wcmt.eliM Mthf Mty 28, I9M.
oi Oauha P. o. mi l 3. I7.
OMAHA, SUNDAY MORNING, JANUARY 18, 1920. . t tLffiJ&J7ES 85i! FIVE CENTS.
THE WEATHER:
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snow Sunday and Monday; rising
temperatures Monday in cast and
central portions.
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EX-KAISER HELPS
STRENGTHEN DIKES.
Amerongen, Jan. 17. The former
kaiser worked two hours Saturday
helping the Bentinck . castle staff
strengthen the castle dikes which
are threatened by the rising of the
Rhine.
NO GROUP TO
DICTATE TO
DEMOCRATS
Cummings
DAUGHTER OF SECRETARY
OF INTERIOR TO WED.
Washington, Jan. 17. The secre
tary of interior and Mrs. Lane have
announced the engagement of their
only daughter, Nancy, to Phillip C.
Kauffmann, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Victor Kauffmann of this(city. The
wedding will take place in the late
Spring.
SHORTAGE OF TOBACCO
RESULTS IN RIOTING.
t Murcia, Spain, Jan. 17. Three
gendarmes and five civilians were
wounded in the course of demon
strations here over the shortage of
tobacco. Tobacco stores were at
tacked, by the populace, and when
gendarmes appeared there was
fighting which was subdued only
after the arrival of reinforcements.
USE MACHINE GUNS '
TO SCATTER CROWDS.
Badajose, Spain, Jan. 17. Serious
disturbances occurred at Lisbon
during Thursday night as a result
of '. the resignation of the cabinet,
according to stories reaching here.
Republican guards patrolled the
streets and machine guns were used
to scatter the crowds, which at
times became threatening.
Dispatches from Oporto, where a
bakers" strike is in progress, say
that a bomb was exploded in the
street. , ;
Persons in the crowd were in
jured.. DE KOVEN NUMBERS TO BE
PLAYED AT HIS FUNERAL.
New'York, Jan. 17. Reginald De
Koven's compositions will feature
the musical program at his funeral
services in the Cathedral of St. John
the Divine here Tuesday. The or
gan voluntary will be from his latest
opera, "Rip Van Winkle," and ex
cept jhehymn's, the composer's own
work will make up the musical num
bers. He died .in Chicago Thursday.-,-
v . . i
Bishop Burch of the. New ork
dioces of the Prdtestant Episcopal
church,, and Rev. George William
Douglas, a relative of the family, will
officiate. The cathedral choir will
S:BK..,' '. '
CHARGE IMMORALITY
AT NAVAL STATION.
Washington, Jan. 17. Immediate
investigation of charges of immoral-itv-
among inmates at the Ports
mouth naval prison, transmitted to
the Navy department by agents of
the department office last October,
will be made by the naval author
ities. Assistant Secretary Roosevelt
announced rpon his return from an
inspection' of the prison.
Mr. Roosevelt said he could not
explain why the charges of immoral
"ity, lodged vith the Navy department
in October, never had been acted
upon by the "department or brought
to the attention of Commander Os
borne before his recent visit to the
ptison. .,, '
PINK EYE AFFLICTS
DEER ON RESERVE.
Ogdcn, Jan. 17. Forest service of
ficials received word from J. C.
Roak, supervisor of the Kaibab for
est in northern Arizona, that an out
break of opthalmea or pink eye is
affecting many of the 15.000 head
of deer on the preserve, just north
of the Grand canyon. The Kaibab,
he said, is declared by forest men
to b the largest forest in the United
States.
NATIONAL GUARDSMAN
ARRESTED FOR MURDER.
Burlington, Colo., Jan. 17. Bailey
f Stone, alias Jack Bailey, a member
of the Colorado National Guard and
who was stationed near Oak Creek,
Colo., during the recent coal strike,
was arrested here by Sheriff Charles
Nieman of Kit Carson county on a
charge of murder. He is wanted in
Missouri. . ,
FRENCH GIRLS OF
18 KT. VARIETY ONLY.
Chicago, Jan. 17. Former soldiers
who plan to send presents to ac
quaintances in France must first
make certain their gifts measure up
to French custom standards, P. W.
Kunning. assistant district manager
of the Chicago department of for
eign commerce, said in explaining
why "many articles had failed to
reach their destination.
"The French government requires
that gold be 18 carat or better and
that silver measure up to an equally
high standard before it can be sent
through the customs house," Mr.
Kunning said. "Many men have
scut diamond engagement rings
across that cost several hundred dol
lar.. But they were set in gold
bands of 16 or 17-carat gold. This
is a common standard here, but the
French government refused to pass
them. The result was thafthe men
have received indignant letters from
girls accusing them of neglect"
MRS. ROOSEVELT BACK
FROM TRIP TO BRAZIL.
New York, Jan. 17. Mrs. Theo
dore Roosevelt today completed a
round trip to Brazil for the benefit
of her health. She left New York
on November .19 and returned here
today on the steamship Vauban, on
which she had departed. Her son,
Kermit, accompanied her to Rio Ja
neiro from New York, but remained
in 'Brazil on business., Mrs. Roose-
velt returned alone. t
Chairman of Democratic Na
tional Committee . Makes
Statement Relative to Con
duct of Coming Campaign.
"GOING TO CONSIDER
TREATY AS AMERICANS"
Will Give Out Formal An
4 nouncement Soon as to Dem
ocratic Campaign for Funds
To Clear Up Rumors.
New York, Jan. 17. The demo
cratic party will conduct its presi
dential campaign without regard to
group interests, Hbmer S. Cum
mings, chairman of the democratic
national committee declared today.
Mr. Cummings, here to attend a
meeting of the committee on ar
rangements for the San Francisco
convention, so sated when asked
whether the party intended to un
dertake any propaganda to over
come the reported defection of cer
tain Irish and other elements op
posed to ratification of the peace
treaty in its present form.
."We are going to consider the
treaty and other issues as Amer
icans," he asserted. "I am unalter
ably opposed to considering this
question in any other way. Per
sonally, I believe racial objections
to the peace treaty are more noise
than anvthins else. Those who are
shouting the loudest haven't been
strong for us any way.".
Endorse Peace Treaty.
Mr. Cummings pointed to the fact
that the national committee had en
dorse the peace treaty as submitted
by tne president and was standing
pat on that issue. " Those who be
lieved that the treaty was inimical
to the political aspirations ot the
Irish oeoole were wronsr. lie said.
The treaty and the league of na
tions, he declared, would be a real
bencht to all the small nations.
Chairman Cummings announced
that so many misstatements , had
been made as to the democratic
campaign for funds that he would
issue a formal statement soon,' re
plying to them.
"I feel that the chairmen of the
national committees should not en
ter into a personal controversy,", he
said, but the criticism against us
has become almost libelous and I
feel compelled to issue a formal re
ply and make our position clear."
Name Sumcommittee.
The only business transacted by
thecommittee on arrangements was
appointments of six subcommittees
to handle various phases ot the con
vention plans. ' No. other meeting of
the full committee is expected until
about June 1, wnen both tTie nation
al committee and the arrangements
committee will assemble in San
Francisco to make the final conven
tion plans. The temporary chair
man probably will be named then.
Women were represented on the
committee of arrangements today
for the first time in the party's his-
Continued on Pane Two, Column Four,)
Music Teacher Freed
Of Murdering Wife
And Colonel Butler
-
Brown wood,. Tex., Jan. 17. Three
and a half years under the cloud of a
murder charge, Harry J. Spanell, a
former Texas music teacher, is free
by actiorf of a district court jury.
The verdict came after two hours'
deliberation., V
His third trial in connection with
the shooting to death of his wife,
Mrs. Crystal Spanell, and Col. M. C.
Butler at Alpine, Tex., July 20, 1916,
ended in his acquittal.'
Though' o:: trial for slaying Col
onel Butler, Uvlinically the jury did
not pass on hi.- ""lilt, or -innocence
of this charge, bu. stained his plea
that acquittal three years ago at his
first trial on the charge of murder
ing his wife had in effect cleared him
of. Butler's murder.
Coant Condemned to Death
For Assassination of Eisner
rnn;.-t Tr.ii 17 fount Arco Val-
lev was sentenced to death yesterday
tor tne assassination -or rwuri r.is
mr the Bavarian nremier. at Mu
nich" February 21. 1919.
Count Arco vaney was on tne
witness stand all day in the court,
which was guarded, insideand out
by troops.
Describing events which led to
the assassination, the count said:
"I shot him from behind because
he betrayed my fatherland."
Names Special Counsel '
To Prosecute Radicals
New-York, Jan. 17. State Attor
ney General Newton ,: announced
that he had selected John B.
Stanchfield and Martin W.i Little
ton to act as-special counsel-to the
judiciary committee at the, trial of
the five suspended . socialists, v .
LEARN OF PLOT
TO OVERTHROW
U.S. GOVERNMENT
Governor of Arkansas Gets Or
ders to Have All T roops in
Readiness for Action. .
' Little Rock, Jan. 17. Gov. C. H.
Brough, addressing a state meeting
of merchants, said he had been given
confidential information by the War
department that a nationwide plot to
overthrow the government had been
discovered. The plot, he said, was of
serious proportions. He said the
War department had asked him to
have all Arkansas troops in readi
ness: Strictly Confidential.
Maj. Henry F. Fredeman, asa! '.
ant adjuta.it general, said the letur
referred to had been received by him
from Col. John B. Rose, chairman
of the organization committee of the
National Guard association o fthe
United States and that it had been
shown Governor Brough "in the
strictest confidence."
Colonel Rose, according to the let
tier, based his assertions on informa
tion given him confidentially by the
intelligence department of the army."
Extent of Plot Unknown.
Kansas City, Mo., Jan. 17. In
formation of the discovery of a plot
to overthrow the United States gov
ernment came to Assistant Adjutant
General Freedman of Arkansas just
a few days ago, said Governor
Brough of that state, in Kansas City.
''The' message gave no intimation
of the extent of the plot, nor of the
time at which it might be expected
to come to a head," said Governor
Brough. '
DEATH WINS
IN RACE WITH
t PLANE
MA
Special Serum Necessary to
SaveJJves of Two of Family
Who Ate Poisoned Olives Ar
rives Too Late in New York,
PHYSICIANS HOPE TO
SAVE ONE MEMBER
Antitoxin Obtained in Wash
ington, Where It Was Being
Used by U. S. Bureau of
Animal Industries. .
PLEA FOR ERROR
WRIT DENIED BY
SUPREME COURT
High Tribunal Has No Juris
diction in Cole Case, Judge
Decides.
Washington, Jan. 17. (Special
Telegram.) Attorney F, M. Tyrrell
of Lincoln presented formally to
Justicf VanDevanter this morning,
before the conference of justices of
the supreme court began, a request
that he be permitted to file a writ
of error in the case of Aison Di
Cole, convicted ot the murder of
Mrs. Lul.u Vogt at Elba in 1917.
Justice VanDevanter late this
afternoon saw Mr. Tyrrell in the
office of Clerk James Maher and
after examining the records in the
case denied permission to file the
writ on the grounds that there
was no federal question involved.
He stated he would attach his views
to the petition later. Mr. Tyrrell
left tonight for Lincoln.
Mr. Tyrell came to Washington
Friday in an 11th hour effort to save
Cole's life. Cole, with his partner
in crime, Allen V. Grammer, son-in-law
of the murdered woman, was
sentenced to die yesterday at the
Nebraska penitentiary between 6
a. m. and 6 p. m.
Because of pending legal action in
United States circuit court. Gover
nor McKelvie reprieved Cole, and
postponed the date for execution of
both men to January 30. This is the
fourth time the execution of these
men has been postponed.
i iew ioric, Jan. i. ueall: won a
double victory in a grim race with
an express train and a government
mail airplane tonight when two
more members of the Paul Dclbene
family, poisoned from eating olives,
died in Fordham hospital owing to
the late arrival of the special serum
necessary to save their lives. Hos
pital physicians, however, hope to
save the life of the one surviving
member of the family of seven, a
10-year-old girl, with serum, received
from Washington.
Another package of serum which
was bein.sy rushed eastward from
Chicago by mail airplane failed to
arrive, the machine having been dis
abled and forced fo land at Black
Oak, Ind. The fluid was reported to
have been transferred to a mail train
and is expected to arrive early to
morrow. Too Late to Save Him.
Had it not been for delays caused
by storms it is believed the serum
brought by train from Washington
would have arrived in time to save
the life of Angelo Delbene, who diSd
before the fluid could be adminis
tered. His brother, Dominick, who
also died, received one injection aud
rallied slightly. His illness, how
ever, was too far advanced and he
lived but . two hours after being
treated.
An injection was made in the arm
of Conchctta Delbene. 10 years old,
a daughter of Paul Delbene, who is
also seriously ill, having eaten one
of the poisoned olives. She has a
chance for recovery, physicians said.
Obtained in Washington.
The serum, which arrived tonight,
was obtained in Washington, where
it was being used for experiments
by the United States bureau of ani
mal industries.
The members of the family who
have , already died from the olive
poisoning are Paul Delbene, his
wife, their two sons, Antonio and
Dominick, and two brothers of Paul
Delbene, Angelo and Dominick.
Health Commissioner CopcJand
announced tonight that ' he had
traced the poisoned olives to an east
side store. The olives originally
came from California, he said. There
were 48 cases in the shipment, but
it was learned that part of them had
been consumed without harmful results.
O'Hara Sentenced to
One to Eight Years
On Girls' Charge
' Joseph O'Hara, 2512 Leavenworth
street, was sentenced to the peniten
tiary for one to eight years by Dis
trict Judge Troup yesterday after
his motion for a new trial had been
overruled.
O'Hara was found " guilty by a
jury in District Judge Redick's court
December 12 of assault with intent
to commit a statutory crime. Three
other men were indicted with him,
charged with taking Eva Turpquist
and Belia Anderson, lS-yeaj'-old
girls, in an automobile to a lonely
road west of the city late thenight
of September 13.
The girl3 both testified that the
men attacked them." Stanley Fox,
another of the men, was found
guilty of criminal assault two weeks
ago. Thomas Sullivan, a married
man, "jumped" his bond of $500,
aftec the conviction of O'Hara, and
was not here for trial two weeks
ago. Fox was then placed on trial.
"Pussyfoot" Johnson Glad :
Prohibition Is Effective
London, Jan. 17. William E.
(Pusseyfoot) Johnson the American
Anti-Saloon league organizer, in the
course of a speech referred to the
going into effect in the United States
of the prohibition amendment.
"This is a solemn moment for
me," Mr. Johnson declared, "because
from this day the flag of my coun
try will no longer float ovfr any
brewery or distfillery. My flg is
clear, and from beginning to end our
statute books will direct war against
this traffic in human misery and de
bauchery." Mr. Johnson 'said he was. looking
forward to the success of the pro
hibition campaign in England
The Passing Show of-1920
-g. t ww please come h WWV-
' Ve
FATE OF DAVIS
AGAIN RESTS IN
HANDOF JURY
Second Trial of Man Charged
With Assault on Mayor
Completed Last
Evening.
Johnsori Takes Steps
To Have His Name on
Ballot in Nebraska
Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 17. Initial
steps by United States Senator Hi
ram W. Johnson, republican of Cali
fornia, to have his name placed on
the Nebraska presidential preference
primary ballot have been taken.
This was learned here today when
Secretary of State D. M. Amsberry
announced the receipt from Senator
Johnson of a telegram asking for
the final date on which a candidate
may qualify for the primary and in
quiring as to what requirements are
necessary for the riling of petitions
to place a candidate's name on the
ballot. ' ..,-'
Mr. Amsberry rcplie'd, giving
March 24 as the last day for filing
petitions, which must have the sig
natures of 100 voters , in each congressional-district.
The primaries,
both republican and democratic, will
be held April 20.
12 Influenza Deaths
. In Chicago Saturday
Chicago, Jan. 17. Twelve deaths
were caused in Chicago Saturday by
influenza and 1.002 new cases of in
fluenza were reported. The disease
is spreading more rapidly than it did
a year ago- but the death rate is
smaller.
Milwaukee, Wis., Jan. 1. The
second death here within aweck
from Spanish' influenza occurred
Saturday. Milwaukee now has a
total of 241 known cases of in
fluenza, of which 151 were reported
Saturday. y
Nebraska Takes Second
, Place in Stock Show
Denver. Jan. 17. Kansas 'carried
off the first prize awarded in the
national western stock show win
ning the collegiate students stock
judging contest.
Universities of Nebraska, Wyom
ing. Colorado and Kansas took part.
Nebraska ranked second f
The case of George Davis was
given to the jury at 5:45 yester
day afternoon after a trial which be
gan last Monday morning.
This was the second trial of Davis
on the charges of assault to murder
and assault to do great bodily in
jury to Mayor Smith the night of
the court house riot, September 29,
1919. After fhe first trial the jury
was unable to agree on a verdict
after 40 hours of deliberation.
Davis was charged with striking
a blow on the right side of the
mayor's head which rendered him
unconscious. This ,was after the
mayor had been dragged from the
court house and had defied the
mob. The mayor declared at bbth
trials, that he was positive in his
indentification of Davis. , '
1 Large Crowd Present.
A large crpwd listened to the
closing arguments yesterday after
noon by County Attorney Shotwell
and Chief Deputy County. Attorney
Coffey for the state and by Eugene
O'Sullivan and William Jamieson
for Davis. . '' '"
The George Davis case' has be
come the best known of those grow
ing out of the court house riots.
Nearly two weeks have been con
sumed on the two trials of Davis, on
the charges of assault upon Mayor
Smith. , The first trial began De
cember 15, arid the case was given
to the jury December 18. Two days
later the jury was discharged with
out reaching an agreement on a ver
dict. Order Second Trial.
County Attorney Shotwell ordered
the second trial to begin last Mon
day. Nearly two days were con
sumed in getting a jury. The evi
dence - was completed yesterday
morning and the case was given to
the jury ye? terday afternoon after
arguments lasting four hours.
Davis is a wholesale and retail
peddler of fruits and vegetables. He
lives with his sister at 1512 North
Twenty-eighth street. He is 32 years
ol8 and a large man. "
Mayor Smith first identified him
November 5 as the man who struck
him the night of the riot by a pho
tograph ' taken from the , police
(Continued on Pntre Two, Column One.)
British Labor Party Head
Gives Government Warning
London, Jan. 17. Arthur Hender
son, leader of the labor party in
parliament, in a. letter dealing with
the Russian situation is quoted as
follows:
"If the government refusing even
to consider repeated offers of peace
from the Soviets, involves the coun
try in war over vast areas of Eu
rope and Asia, the labor party will
resist to the uttermost such an un
necessary and reckless military ad
venture masquerading: as a war "of
defense" "
HOPE FOR ACTION
ON TREATY THIS
MONTH VANISHES
Hitchcock Demands Radical
Modification in Reserva
tions Program.
Washington, Jan. 17. Hopes for
final action by the senate on the
peace treaty this month virtually
had Vanished tonight.
Efforts of republican and demo
cratic leaders to adjust disputes
over reservations will be continued
next week, but the time required for
negotiations with the rank and file
of the senate and the debate which
will follow in the senate itself are
expected generally t'o preclude final
action before February, at the
earliest.
Two sessions of the bi-partisan
"round table" committees were held
today and considerable progress to
ward agreement on minor reserva
tions was reported.
Leaders on both sides said little
progress had been made in the
preliminary discussion recently of
the reservations affecting Article X
and the Monroe doctrine. Repub
lican leaders, including those of the
"mild reservations" faction, appear
ed as insistent as ever that there be
no change in the principles of these
reservations. Some of the demo
crats in the conference were said to
indicate a disposition to meet the
republicans' demands on these res
ervations, but the attitude of Sen
ator Hitchcock, administration
leader, in demanding radical modi
fications, was understood to be un
changed. " . ),
Hoover Thinks Lifting 4
Blockade of Russia
11 r i r i i i
m rinisn Doisneviki
MAYOR WILL NOT
ASK NOMINATION
F O R GOVERNOR
Denies Ambition, But Speech
Indicates He Would Ac
cept if Drafted Into '
The Fight.
HOME OFFICE
DIDN'T BACK
UP ADMIRAL
Commander of Americar
Naval Forces Overseas
Charges Lack of Co-Operation
Hindered His Efforts.' .
TOLD TO BEWARE OF
BRITISH ENDEAVORS
"United States Would as Soon
Fight British as Germans "
He Was Told, According ta
Evidence Given Senators.
vyi
Washington, Jan. 17. Removal of
tne blockade on soviet Russia has
knocked one of their "greatest pi ops"
from under the bolsheviki, Herbert
Hoover said in a statement here.
! Speaking from his knowledge of
world conditions, the former direc
tor of European relief, said the soviet
government had laid every failure of
socialism on the blockade and used
ic as a stimulus for raising armies on
the groun.l that the Russians were
fighting to save themselves from
starvation. With' the blockade re
moved in large part, Mr. Hoover
said, the "bolshevik tyranny' will
face collapse when it fails to relieve
suffering." j t
, Mr. Hoover thought Russia had no
jommodities, wheat, flax or cotton,
for export, since starvation is acute
in the larger cities and the people
almost in rags. The peasants were
said to have sufficient food. ,
Wood Alcohol Manufacturers
Won't Sell to Retail Trade
Chicago, Jan. 17. Manufacturers
of wood alcohol have agreed not to
supply the product to the retail trade
in the future. H. J. Pfeffcr, western
manager of the United States Indus
trial Alcohol company, told the city
council committee on health.
, Mr. Pfeffer appeared before the
committee in connection with a pro
nosed ordinance to license and regu
late the sale of wood and denatured
alcohol. .
"I am not, and do not desire o be,
a candidate for any public office,"
asserted Mavor Ed P. -Smith, at the
conclusion of a vigorous address last
night at the Paxton hotel, where 164
of his friends and employes of the
city hall attended an "Ed P. Smith
for Governor" dinner. ',
It was the. concensus of opinion
after the function that the mayor's
gubernatorial candidacy remains an
open question and that he may enter
the rac. When the question was
put to him at the close of the meet
ing, the mayor replied that his speech
was his answer. . .;
Attacks Code Bill.
The outstanding feature of the
mayor's address was an attack on
Governor McKelvie's code bill form
of state government, which the
mayor dsnounced as more autoceatic
than any government in Europe. His
words had the ring of a ''keynote
address" of one outlining his state
policies. He charged the governor
with getting his "autocratic" code,
bill through the legislature while
Nebraska boys were in Europe fight
ing to overthrow autocracy. '
The real purpose for which the
dinner had been called, that -of
launching the mayor's boom for gov
ernor, was not settled to tile satis
faction of the promoters
"It appears as if the mayor may
vet be a candidate for governor." saiiji
J. W. Ctitright.
"He didn't say he would not be a
candidate for governor," remarked
W. C. Lambert, corporation counsel.
Waits for Draft
"J thought he meant that he would
submit to the draft," .was the opinion
of C. Vincent.
"May 1 be he is like Herbert
Hoover, who said he was not a
candidate, but ," asserted one of
the women.
Many of tUe attendants compared
mental notes after the meeting,
wondering whether the mayor will
accept the filing of his name for
the primaries.
"I can't plead ignorance of the
talk during the. last few weeks by
enthusiastic and misguided friends."
the mayor said in the conclusion of
his speech. "During the last two
years I have tried to give Omaha
the best that was in me as mayor.
It has not all been weeks of pleas
ure not years of profit. I am ready
and willing to give mv last drop of
blood to this state. I feel that I
have given this town my energy
and means until both are somewhat
exhausted. yThere are some things,
(Continued on Pae 10-A, Column 4.)
Countess of Warwick Named
Candidate for Parliament
T.("ilT(lfttl Tan 1 7 TK fmmca rt
Warwick has been chosen as the I
prospective candidate for Parliament
from East Walthamslo by' the labor
pa?ty. . 1
Washington, Jan. 17. Investiga
tion by a. senate subcommittee of
awards of naval war decorations
took a new angle today when Rear
Admiral William S. Sims, the only
witness heard so far, laid before the
committee a long letter entitled
"certain naval lessons of the great
war," written by him to Secretary
Daniels, arraigning many aspects of
the Navy department's conduct of
the war.
Lack of full co-operation with the
commander . of American naval
forces' overseas, the post filled by
Admiral Sims throughout the war,
was the general criticism made, but
tne letter contained also a statement
that just before he left for London,
Admiral Sims was told "not to let
the British pull the wool over your
eyes," and that the United States
would as scon fight the British as
the Germans.
Who issued these orders was not
brought out during the hearing, but
Admiral Sims said afterwards the
statement had been made to him by
"a high official."
' Wants Wider Enquiry.
Introduction of the letter prompted
Chairman Hale, republican, Maine,
to announce that he would ask'th".
full naval committee Monday to au
thorize his subcommittee to makt
a wider inquiry or.' to appoint
another subcommittee to investigate
the conduct of the war by the Navy
department. . .. .
Wants Wider Inquiry.
In a statement relative to Admiral
Sims' letter,' Secretary Daniels said
he had referred it to ;the general
board "with directions to, give con
sideration to it and to all other com
munications riirectrd tn thp rfpiiart.
j mcnt concerning the -lessons of the
n
war.
The letter declares it important as
a guide in future wars that "a just
estimate be made of the errors of
policy, atactics, strategy and admin
istration that were committed bv
our navy," and adds that it is for
that purpose that "the most serious
of these errors" are summarized.
Then follows the recital of the of
ficers assigned to London "on bare
ly 48 hours notice' in March, 1917,
and this statement regarding his in
structions: ' ' .
Received Verbal Orders.
"Brief orders were delivered to me
verbally in Washington. No formal
instructions or statement of the
Navy department's plan or policv
were received at that time, though
I received the following admoni
tion: -"'Don't let the British pull
the wool over your eyes. It is none
of our business pulling theiKchest
nuts out of the tire. We would as
soon fight the British as the Ger
mans.'" The letter contained more than
7,000 words and was written Janu
ary 7. Admiral Sims read it today
at the request of Chairman Hale.
It reviewed Admiral Sims' experi
ences and said that at tfie time he
left for Europe, he had no idea that
ne was to command American naval
forces abroad in event of war, then
impending.
As soon as he arrived in London,
the letter said, Admiral Sims real
ized that the Naval department did
not comprehend the seriousness of
the submarine menace, due to the
insufficient scope of the American
intelligence service. '
Serious Situation.
"A review of the cables sent to
the Navy department in April, 1917."
the letter said, "shows that the situ
ation was very serious and that the
enemy was rapidly winning the war
by the destruction of merchant ship
ping. Throughout the following
year numerous cables and letters of
the most urgent possible character
were sent with the object of im
pressing on 'the department the vital
necessity of our maximum effort
being exerted in European waters
with the least possible delay, but
without producing the desired re
sult." The Navy department was re
peatedly told, the letter said, that
it was a matter of simple arithme
tical calculation to determine that
the allies must lose the war if the
rate of ship loss continued. ,
"For some reason, which has
never been explained," Admiral
Sims wfote, "the Navy department
durinc at lpat tlic first iv mnntVis
of the war, failed to put into actual
practice any co-operation with the
allies a policy required for winning
the war with the least nrnsihl Ar.
lay."
The letter charged that not until
July, 1917, did the Navy department
(Contloufd on ri Two, Column One.)
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