The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-05-19

that the advice once having been given.
| the decision should be reached by the
| smallest body possible-preferably by one
higher command. ] have been told by
prominent officials that on frequent oc-
| casions Admiral Sims has had to assert
himself very vehemently in order to carry
out this policy.
I A typical case which is often spoken
| of in all naval circles occurred at a
| council meeting in which it was decided
| that certain American forces should be
sent into a distant era. A European
member of the council who was charged
with the problem of supplies took the
stand that the supplies for this little
force should, of course, be furnished
from the United States. Admiral Sims
pointed out Immediately that the Ameri-
can forces must be looked upon as al
lied forces and must be supplied from
the nearest and most convenient allied
sources of supply. He stated that the
United States stood ready, and would
send into the war area those supplies
which were lacking, but that all supplies
must be pooled where necessary, Ameri-
ca filling up the deficiencies wherever
she could and using the shortest and
most expedious routes.
This incident is simply illustrative OF
, the condition of affairs which this
American policy has brought about. Adj
miral Sims insistance on efficient con-
solidation rather than on cooperation,
inevitably crippled by differences in
customs and methods, has resulted in
such wide spread confidence in Ameri-
can intentions among allied naval au-
thorities, that not only is he welcomed
Into their most secret councils but the
advice and proposals which he puts for
ward on the part of the United States
navy department carries such weight
that it is only statement of the simple
truth to say that proportionately to
our numbers the United States navy
plays at least as strong part in shap-
| ing allied naval policy as any other
nation. This common policy is then put
into effect through assisting organi-
lzations into which United States naval
officers enter as integral parts which
results not only in added efficiency but
also in economy in the use and en-
ployment of trained officers, many
more of whom would be required to
carry on the work if entirely separate
but parallel organizations were set up
for the purpose.
Speaking generally, one may say that
every character and type of naval ac-
tivity which can be conceived is in ac-
tual progress in European waters.
Without going into the efficiency of
any individual type of operations, or
questioning whether they have beer
well conceived, it is apparent that a
new force stepping in, If it wishes to
make itself felt to the maximum de-
gree, cannot attempt to displace the
operations already in progress. Mani
)festly the best method is for the new
forces to be treated simply as rein
forcements and thrown into the line
wherever weak spot exists The
1.-The American navy, with it's traditions
behind it, had been trained as nation.
al and individual unit. and it was quite
natural that it should have involun-
tarily resisted being broken up and
scattered here and there-losing its
identity as a combined force. But the
fact is that we are reserves" and we
must come up as reinforcements.
Thanks to the foresight of our naval
commander abroad, however. such ques-
lions of pride were completely subor-
dinated to the paramount question Of
defeating the common enemy.
Admiral Sims even went the length
of instrucing all the Individual officers
under his command on the Importance
Of avoiding any friction whatever with
their allies. He pointed out to them
from the very beginning that undoubt-
edly they would find many conditions
| in the allied forces which in their opin-
ions would seem inefficient and in
service, but he exhorted them always
to seek and bear in mind the good
points of the other services as well as
their bad ones. an dhe Impressed upon
them the fact that the efficiency Of
their work would be directly affected
in proportion to the good feeling they
managed to main 4 in with their com.
rades in arms.
1t is common knowledge that in the
early days Of the war Washington was
flooded with requests by representatives
of all of our, allies for naval assistance
in small as well as large numbers. a
great many of these requests We're re-
ferred to Admiral Sims, and l can tell
row how they were all admirably co-or-
dinated by him. He went before the OIL
lied navy departments and. laying tie
various individual requests on the table.
called or the interested parties to come
to an agreement with him as to the best
disposition of the United States naval
forces in order to tdefeat the common
enemy 1t speaks well for his methods
that he easily obtained agreement on
these points and our forces went into
critical areas where they were most
needed, regardless of national boun-
daries.
That Admiral Sims policy of CONSOLE
dation is in accordance with American
ideals at this crisis in our history IS
shown ry the fact that IN at least two,
other fields of war activity, the same