New-York tribune., 1910-12-28

s,on a. TO wa,a. action, IL any, shall De
taken. While Il is not regarded as prop
rhle that the authorities here VIII co"i :
marital Commander Sims, il is ikeiy that
he VIII be reprimanded-
rh. Many Department would probably
bsv. let the matter pass were II not Tor
the tact that the State Department may
he embarrassed by the remarks in the ne
ep-sattous looking TO an arn1capie setue
Meu1 ~ the potash coniroversy certain
cerrnen papers and political speakers nave
already commented unfavorabiy on fhe
feet that German ports We're left out of
the itinerary Of the American fleet on the
cruise 10 European waters. ana for this
,sascn Commander Sims's remarks are
considered especially untimely. They were
Of course promptly cabled to Germany,
where military discipline is strict that
ti I. difficult for the public 10 understand
that such sentiments were not expressed
with the consent, IL not the authority, OF
this government. For that reason ii may
require reprimand of Commander Sims
70 convince Germany of the truth of the
denfsIs already made by the Department
of State and the Navy Department OF all
responsibility for his sentiments.
The suggestion that the remarks OF the
American commander were direct result
Of the abundance of British hospitality Will
hardly prove tenable, because the portion
peculiarly objectionable the Germans
was taken from an advance copy of the
speech The expression which has caused
all this trouble is follows:
4 wish TO express an opinion on this
subject. which is entirely personal and it
is this: If the time ever comes when the
British Empire is seriously menaced bv an
external enemy. ii is my opinion that YOU
may count upon every man. every dollar
snd every drop Of blood of your kindred
scross the sea
The chief German critic in this situation
II Count Won ReyentIow the well known
naval critic and political writer. He holds
that the failure of the American, fleet to
visit German ports is decidedly conspicl,ouS
from a political point OF view, and that
neither lack Of ships nor time can be ad-
venced as an excuse. 'Perhaps the fleets
avoidance of German waters is due 10 the
NReftfnG Gerna economic differ
ences. he says If so. the warning is all
the more necessary that We should in no
circumstances give even the appearance of
running after the Americans" In other
articles he warns the Germans against the
Dyofessed friendship of the America ms "
dsclarlns that the visit OF the feet 10 Eng
land was an entente cordiaIe as against
Germany. and that the visit to French
port. Was made TO add TO the sting
In response TO cable dispatch from Sec
retsry Meyer asking for an official report
~ the sentiments expressed by Commander
Sims. Rear Admiral Murdock. commanding
the third division of the Atlantic feet. to
which the Minnesota is attached. has sent
reply 10 tie Secretary giving the SUP
stance Of the commanders remarks On
receiving this report Secretary Meyer to-
day referred the case 10 the President
Many protests have been received by the
Navy Department from persons of other
nstionalities than British. IL is noted that
Commander Sims careful to say that
he expressed only his personal views. and
the point il raised 10 how far a naval
officer so in publicly giving his opinions
on Internal tionel affairs