The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-07-21
Admiral Sims OH the Jutland Battle
(LOndOn Times.)

Admiral William Sims, of the Unit
ed States navy, spoke at a meeting
held at the London Opera House
Yesterday afternoon to commemorate
the herOism of the sailors who fought
and the self-sacrilce of those who
fell at the Battle Of Jutland The
meeting had been arranged by the
British and Foreign Sailors Society.
The Bishop of Willesden presided,
and among those on the platform
were Admiral Sir Cecil Burney, the
Dean of Durham CDR. Hensley Hen
SOM, DR.. c. w. Saleby, and the
mother of John Cornwell, V. C. The
Opera House was crowded, and an
~.erfow meeting had to be arranged
in another hall
An expression Of regret for his in
ability to be present received from
Admiral Sir John Jellicoe was read
by the chairman.
Admiral Sims said how glad he was
to have an opportunity of expressing
his admiration for the gallant men
who in the Jutland battle gave up
their lives in this struggle to make
the world a fit place for decent men
to live in. (Cheers.) MANY of these
men," he continued, "were friends of
mine and Of my brother officers, so
that we can understand in q meas
ure the grief of those to whom they
were dear, and as the representative
of the American Navy in European
bereaved ones have the entire sympa-
thy Of our navy and of the vast ma
jority Of the people of the United
States, where it is realized that the
blood shed in that greatest naval bat
tie in history was shed not only for
Great Britain and her allies, but also
for the cause of freedom throughout
the world. This fact was not at first
well understood across the water, but
II. is :, understood now, and our presi-
dent has declared that we are pre-
pared for any sacrifice that this
cause may triumph.
''The difficulty was that the associa-
tiOn of ideals between our people and
yours had not hitherto been close
enough to allow of realization of
the spiritual bonds that really unite
us. To those of us who have enjoy
ed such an association the matter
was very clear. There were many of
us who anticipated that this spiritual
union would manifest itself in no un-
certain way at the first threat Of real
danger to our civilization. / am glad
To be able to say, that. as the result
of many visits to Great Britain and
her colonies. 1 had reached that CON
clusiOn; and in 1910, when our fleet
very undiplOmatic speech in the
Guildhall, in which I expressed an
opinion which is now being translated
into action by the intelligent pinion
and will of the entire American peo-
pie. This is about what / said: IF
the time ever comes when the in
tegrity of the British Empire is Sc
iOusly threatened by European coal
ition you may count upon every ship.
lpU 1nh
drop of blood Of your kinsmen across
the seas (Cheers.) Speaking for
my own service, / desire to pay n
tribute to the brave seamen who have
consecrated the waters of the North
Sea with their blood to the everlast-
ing honour of their service and our
profession. I trust, if the fortunes
Of war should necessitate another
Jutland battle, American seamen may
themselves able to sustain your naval
traditions. Our naval forces are al
ready on actual service i'm these wa
tcrs, and are fighting alongside yours
in the most cordial and complete CO.
; operation (Cheers.)
The Bishop of WillcSden said that
the British and Foreign Society was
LAYING itself out to do all i'm its pow
: er to give to the American Seamen
who came to our shores the splendid
welcome they deserved.
Before the speaking began pro
| gramme of music was played by the
band of the Irish Guards.
Al JohnStoWn, Pa, July 19.-GeOrgt