The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-20
VICE ADMIRAL SIMS
 COMMANDS FORCE
 IN IRISH WATERS
American Naval Officer Hoists Flag as Senior While Englishman Is
 Absent From Post

| London, June 19.-vice Admiral William s. Sims. U. S. N., has been appointed to take charge of the operations of the allied naval forces in Irish waters Admiral Sims will act in this capacity while the British naval commander-in- chefsis absent from his post for period,
 the official announcement of his appoint ment explains The American admiral's s flag, meanwhile, has been hoisted as the
 allied senior officer in these waters
 The text of the official statement
 reads: s
 During a short absence of the British
 naval commander-in-ch chief on the coast
 of Ireland, vice Admiral Sims of the
 United States navy has hoisted his flag
 as allied senior officer in general charge
 of operations of the allied naval forces
 in Irish waters"
 SIMS GIVEN WIDE POWERS
 Washington, June 19.-A brief message
 from London brought the navy depart
 ment its first news of the appointment of Vice Admiral Sims to command the al- lied naval forces in Irish waters during the absence of the commander of that i information as to the new responsibilities placed upon the American officer. The Washington government has given Admiral Sims wide powers to enable him to meet any situation. He has full au- thorty to act on his own initiative in disposing his forces so as to secure the greatest cooperation with the French and British navies and also the maximum efficiency in the battle, against German submarines
 Much of his time has been spent in London and Paris and today's advices are the first to indicate that he has been at sea with his ships. It was said at the department, however, that the officer had determined for himself the best course to pursue and would spend all his time afloat if he regarded that as advisable.
 MUCH SPECULATION The statement that Admiral Sims had hoisted his flag as senior allied naval off, ficer in Irish waters led to much specu- lalion as to what American warship he might be using as flagship, as presum- ably he would hoist his flag only aboard | an American vessel The only facts dis closed by the department as to vessels now in European waters have been that destrt yers have been sent to British ports
 and the naval collier Jupiter to a French port with supplies
 Tremendous responsibilities have been placed on Admiral Sims shoulders. The tale of torpedoed ships in Irish waters | is all often repeated one It has been said that even without the American vessels the British have had thousands of destrcyers, submarine chasers of all sizes and kinds, mine sweepers, aircraft and every other known method of combating {, submarines posted in these waters In the effort to keep open the shipping lanes. HIGH COMMAND All of these forces are now under Ad. miraI Sims On him also rests probably the duty of arranging for the arrival and departure of commercial vessels. both transatlantic and coastwise, that ply Irish waters. The British admiralty exercises rigid control over all ship movements and no vessel leaves port until the naval com mande- reports the seas free of the en- emy
 Tn some quarters it was pointed out that the announcement that the American officer had been placed, even temporarily, in command of British forces greatly su- rerjor to those under the. American flag in those waters might have a political effect in Ireland, where the situation Is turbulent with the approach of the Irish convention period. It might tend to show 1 beyond question, it was suggested, that 1 the British and American governments ] were in perfect accord,