The sun., 1919-05-04
NAVY WAR SECRETS
DISCLOSED BY Sims
Denies Convoy System Was an
American Idea and Ex-
plains Delay.
IN 1910 FORESAW CLASH
Praises Merchant Seamen's
Bravery at English Speak
ing Union Luncheon.

adorned words of a sailor Rear Admiral
Sims, commander during the war OF the
United States naval forces operating In
Eur opean waters, told the 500 men and
women who attended the luncheon OF the
English Speaking Union in his honor in
the Hotel Aston yesterday another chap
ter or two OF the hitherto closely kept
naval secrets OF the war. Not only did
he upset a number OF the popular mis-
conceptions as to the events which took
place along the sea lanes "eass OF 3d.,
where the submarine danger lurked ana
for a time seemed destined to end the
war In favor of the Central Powers, but
he paid the heartiest OF tributes to his
brother seamen OF the merchant service
who refused to be driven from the ocean
by German frightfulness.
The Admirals tribute was no effort OF
polished oratory or well turned phrase.
It was simply this: Next time you are
aboard a liner and you see greasy
member OF the f1reroom force slip up on
deck for a breath Of fresh air touch your
hat to him"
Admiral Sims was introduced by Paul
d. Cravath as the real founder OF the
English Speaking Union in his Guildhall
speech OF 1910, for which he was repri'
added Mr.. Cravath, "he had his revenge
for the Kaiser was much more anxious
to have him recalled from European
waters in 1918 than he was in 1910"
In 1910 He Predicted War.
Admiral Sims said that he had not al
ways been a success as a public speaker
and that in his Guildhall speech he had
spoken from the heart instead OF from
the head. you know" he said, 1.-The
good Lord put head on man for the
same reason that man put head on a
pinto keep It from going too far"
He recalled the cruise of the American
feet to England and France In 1910 and
declared that as result OF his CONVEX
sations with French and British officers
at that time he had reached the conclu-
sion that war in Europe could not be
delayed more than four years and had
made a report stating the reasons for
his belief to his superiors.
when I arrived in England early
in April, 1917. and saw the cards laid
on the table l was astounded at the
situation. and within three days
cabled to Washington that II the sub
marine losses kept up at the rate which
they had then reached that the war
would inevitably be decided in favor
of the Central Powers. I advised the
sending to European waters OF every
American craft WHICH COulu NC ubtu III
combating the submarine. even IL some
OF them had to be lowed"
The popular Idea that the convoy
system was an American idea, the adop-
ton OF which was opposed by the Eng
lish authorities until tests had demon
strated its utility, was utterly wrong.
the Admiral declared.
THE convoy system was not adopted
earlier" he said. for two reasons, both
of NJ, oh, ttrp IN lNay Naval
officers did not believe that merchant
seanen could handle their ships effec-
lively in the close formations necessary.
did not share this belief because had
taught navigation for several years on
the schoolship Pennsylvania and knew
what the average naval officer has never
learned that the merchantmen is a far
better seaman than the naval officer.
The reason is that the merchant officer
passes his whole life at sea while the
naval officer stays on shore just 8 much
as he can and goes to sea only when the
Navy Department orders him there.
$50 far from the Americans demand
ing the convoy system, we were rather
behind the English in the matter. When
1t was decided that such system was
necessary the second obstacle was the
attitude of the merchant sailors them.
seves. They doubted their own ability
until they tried 1t out.
"But its adoption made protection by
destroyers with depth charges easy. Tc
understand how easy II was II is nee
essary to understand the limitations Of
the submarine. which can proceed only
a short distance under water and mus
always keep the power necessary fol-
under water action in reserve in order
10 escape an attack by our destroyers
Tells Destroyer Methods.
THE advantage OF the destroyers la,
in their great speed--nearly forty Lane
miles an hour in the latest types-anC
the ability of their oil furnaces to reacl
full steam pressure and full speed almos
at once. The destroyers patrolled a zon
outside the convoy sufficiently wide t
preclude the possibility of submarine
attacking from beyond it's limits. and /
the enemy was sighted the nearest de
stroyer rushed to the spot and dropped
circle OF depth charges sufficiently larg
to include the submarine II II turned t
the right. Then 1t dropped another circl
to the left, or II there were two de
stroyers they dropped tho two circle
simultaneously"
Another popular misconception whc
the Admiral was at pains TO clear ava,
was the number OF German submarine
in operation. while l was In London,
he said, there arrived at various time
parties of visiting American editors an
1 was often asked 10 speak TO them
always asked them how many subma
rines they believed the enemy had Il
operation off the English and Irish coast,
and the answers always ran anywher
from so to 200. AS a matter of fac
the Germans never had more than elgh
or nine out at one time. The dept
charges made II difficult for them [
keep their boats at sea, for when the
were not actually destroyed by the ma
chimes they often were damaged in sue
a way as to force them to put into por
for repairs and the morale of the crew
was seriously affected.
I'VE destroyed from seven to four
teen submarines a month Many G
them were lost by striking mines. TIL
English Chan'.eI was completely Orc
tected by Mines and Heligoland Bigh
was very dangerous for navigation b
either side, as II was sown with mine
for distance OF $50 miles out TO ses
First the British laid mines there an
then the Germans laid mines to cate
the British mine layers. and then tn
British laid mines to catch the Ger
man mine layers. and 10 1t went on.
And then the Admiral paid his trih
ute TO the men Of the merchant service
some OF whom had been torpedoed hal
dozen times. and seemed to regard
as all in the days work, shipping owe
again as soon as they were put ashor,
you couldn't chase them OF the sea,
he sad.
"But I he foundation stone of tn