Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-05-01
ADMIRAL SIMS
AND HIS RECORD
IN u. S. NAVY

We are indebted to Midshipman
Leonard Parker, fthis city, at the
Z. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md,
for the enclosed extract on Admiral
Sims in who's Who in the Navy"
When, following the entrance of the
United States into the war, an Amer
lean commission was sent to Europe
to study conditions there with a view
to increasing our effectiveness as an
active ally of the nations fighting
Germany, and William Snowden Sims,
recently promoted to the rank of Rear
Admiral, was placed at the head of
the naval section of that committee,
the American people were reminded
of the existence of the officer who,
more than any other individual, has
made the gunnery of the United States
Navy what it is today. In his present
position it is Admiral Sims duty to
formulate, in conference with mem
bers of the Admiralty, plans for the
cooperation of the British and Amer
lean navies. He is peculiarly fitted
for his task, hawever, as, besides hav-
ing been born on British soil, he has
a wide acquaintance among English
naval officers and knows well, and is
well-known by the British Navy.
Rear-Admiral Sims was born in
Port Hope Canada in October, 1858,
and was appointed to the Naval Acad-
envy from Pennsylvania graduating in
1880 From 1880 to to 1897, he serv-
ed successfully on the Tennessee"
North Atlantic Station, Saratoga"
nautical school ship; Charleston"
China Station, and Richmond" at
League Island During the Spanish
American War-from 1897 to 1900
he was naval attache in Paris and ST.
Petersburg. Then followed another
tour of duty on the China Station
during the latter part of which he
was on the staff of the Commander
in-Chief of the Asiatic Fleet.
1t was at this time, about 1902 that
Admiral Sims met Sir Percy Scott, the
English officer who revolutionized
target practice in the British Navy,
and who has in recent years become
famous for his advocacy of the sub
marine as against the battleship.
From Sir Percy Scott he received some
new ideas on the method of conduct
ing target practice, and when, in
November, 1902, he was made Inspec-
tor of Target Practice, he proceeded to
put his theories into execution. Up
to that time, target practice in our
Navy, as well as in England's had
been held only in fair weather, under
the most favorable conditions; Admir-
al Sims insisted that it be held under
the probable or possible conditions of
actual battle, in heavy seas. In the
face of bitter and continued opposi-
ton from older officers, he persevered
il. his efforts until his methods were
adopted by the Navy. He continued in
the office of Inspector of Target Prac-
tice until 1909, and, during that time,
demonstrated the soundness of his
theories, and improved the gunnery OF
the United States Navy immeasurably
He introduced, in addition to target
practice under battle conditions, fir
ing at longer ranges, and also in
creased rapidity of fire, the latter be-
ing with the idea of landing the great
est number of hits in the least posi-
BILE time. To train pointer crews and
thus to improve the accuracy of fire,
he innovated ex-calibre practice.
From 1907 to 1909, while still serv-
ing as Inspector of Target Practice,
Admiral Sims performed additional
duty as naval aide to the President
From 1909 to 1911, he was in COM
mand of the Minnesota" and from
1911 to 1913 he was on duty at the
Naval War College, Newport. He
next commanded the Atlantic Tor
pedo Flotilla, and then November,
1879 took command fthe 'Nexada
He was detached from the Nevada
in December. 1916, and was made
Commandaut of the Naval Station at