ABSTRACT As the First World War came to an end, the U.S. Navy's leadership engaged in a bitter fight over the “lessons” of the war. Admiral William S. Sims and Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels fought against each other's irreconcilable positions. Sims argued that the Navy Department's inexpert civilian secretary had hamstrung mobilisation, impeded the anti-submarine campaign, and ostracised capable officers in favour of friends upon whom he bestowed medals. Daniels countered that his administration had masterfully responded to the crisis of war. The Navy's record, Daniels insisted, could best be summarised as “a great job greatly done.” Only disloyal nit-pickers could find fault in its accomplishments. The Sims-Daniels controversy raged in congressional hearings, the press, and in partisan histories written by the protagonists. The heart of the dispute and its uncertain resolution rested in radically different understandings of American civil–military relations, naval heroism, and the determinants of victory.

中文翻译：

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抹黑胜利？美国海军有争议的历史和军民不和，1919-24

摘要 随着第一次世界大战的结束，美国海军的领导层就战争的“教训”展开了激烈的斗争。海军上将威廉·S·西姆斯和海军部长约瑟夫斯·丹尼尔斯互相反对不可调和的立场。西姆斯辩称，海军部不熟练的文职秘书阻碍了动员，阻碍了反潜行动，并排斥有能力的军官，转而支持他授予勋章的朋友。丹尼尔斯反驳说，他的政府巧妙地应对了战争危机。丹尼尔斯坚持认为，海军的记录可以最好地概括为“做得非常出色”。只有不忠诚的挑剔者才能在其成就中挑剔。Sims-Daniels 的争论在国会听证会、新闻界、以及由主角书写的党派历史。争端的核心及其不确定的解决方案取决于对美国军民关系、海军英雄主义和胜利决定因素的截然不同的理解。