The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-06-23
SIMS COMMANDS
ALLIED FLEET
American Admiral Appointed by
British to Guard Irish Wa
ters From U-Boats.
U. S. WARSH!Ps AID BRITISH
American Destroyers Rush to Aid
Ships In Dlstress-Too Late to
Save Torpedoed Vessels, but
Take Survivors to Port.

London, June 21.-Vice Admiral Will
liam 8. Sims, U. S. N, has been ap-
pointed to take general charge of the
operations of the allied naval forces
In Irish waters.
Admiral Sims will act in this ca
pacity while the British naval COM
mander in chief Is absent from his
post for period, the official announce
ment of his appointment explains. The
American admirars flag meanwhile has
been hoisted as the allied senior officer
In these waters.
The text of the official statement
reads:
During a short absence of the Brit
ish naval commander in chief ON the
coast of Ireland, Vice Admiral Sims of
the United States navy, has hoisted
his flag as allied senior officer in gen
eral charge of operations of the allied
naval forces in Irish waters"
Brief Message In Washington.
Washington, June 21.-A brief mes
sage from London brought the navy
department its first news of the ap-
pointment of Vice Admiral Sims to
command the allied naval forces in
Irish waters during the absence Of
the commander of that district. The de-
partment had no other information as
to the new responsibilities placed upon
the American officer.
The statement that Vice Admiral
Sims had ,hoisted his flag as senior al
lied naval officer in Irish waters led to
much speculation as to what Aineri-
can uiirshtp he might be using tsss-e
flagship, as presumably he would hoist
his flag only aboard an American YES
sci. The only fact disclosed by the de-
partment as to vessels now in Euro
pean waters have been that destroy
ers have been sent to British ports and
the naval collier Jupiter to French
port with supplies.
Pick Up 80 Survivors.
Base of the American Flotilla in
British Waters, June 21.-Two Ameri-
can destroyers have returned to this
port with so survivors of two tor
pedoed British ships. The ships were
sunk at the farthest point westward in
the Atlantic at which the U-boats have
appeared since the unlimited cam
paign began and the response of the
American destroyers to their S. o. S.
was run of more than 100 miles.
When the American warships ar
rived on the scene they found the
ships had vanished and for many hours
they groped about In the dark In
search of survivors. The crew Of one
of the sunken ships 81 In number, was
found In one lifeboat, while 40 survivors
from the second ship were picked
up from two small boats. Four sail
ors from the latter ship were killed by
the explosion Of the torpedo.
compIImented by Admiral Sims.
Admiral Sims and other naval Off
GERS met the destroyers on their re-
turn and complimented the command
ers on their work. American corre-
spondents were present, having been
invited through an arrangement be-
tween the United States and British
governments. The British admiralty
assigned an official photographer to
take pictures of anything desired by
the newspaper men. Many pictures
were taken, showing the American tars
fraternizing with the British sailors.
The Americans presented splendid
appearance, being as fine body of
fighting men as could be found any
where.
Although there are no wartime re-
strictions on the sale of liquor in this
port, the salons are not the rendezvous
of either American or British.
One Of the divisions Of the Ameri-
cans is initiating their British col
leagues into the mysteries of the
American national game.