New-York tribune., 1919-04-08
Relates Stirring Tale of
His Trip Under Assumed
Name in Which the Vessel
Was Hit by M inc
Navy's Work ''Brilliant'
But Gives Warmest Praise
TO Merchant Sailors, who,
He Says, Won the War

Rear Admiral William S. Sims went
;ncognito to England before the United
States declared war on Germany. ne
wont in civilian clothes, under an as
.r,,aa name. more suitable to the oc-
ess;on." accompanied by single aid
The ship on which he sailed struck
mine off the English coast.
"When we arrived in England. in
Anril 1917 the Ceatral Powers were
winning the war, whether you knew
:. ~ not" said Admiral Sims. There
we're 100000 to 100000 tons of ship
ming being lost each month,and we did
~, know how to stop it. We had to
adont n new method. We did this. We
Established first the convoy system;
aecond. tho depth charge; third, the
listening device. Tho convoy system
might have been put into operation
aooner than It was, but it had under
cone q period Of Incorrect information"
Reveals Secret of Trip
70 newspaper men in his suite at the
Bltmore last night the victorious ad-
mlral revealed his trip incognito to
ENGLAND as one of the American secrets
of the war. He told the thrilling story
in the matter of fact language Of the
sailor.
"While was president of the Naval
War College at Newport" he said, 81
was ordered to report without delay to
the Secretary of the Navy at Washing
ton. | was not notified Of the nature
Of the business to be discussed When
arrived was received in secret con-
ference with Secretary Daniels and
Admiral Benson, chief of naval opera
tons.
81 was told that it looked as though
We shall go to war with Germany
They then explained to me that l was
10 go at once to see the people on the
other side, and reach an understand
ing as to how the United States could
best cooperate with Allied sea forces
in operation against Germany.
Puts on Civilian Clothes
"They told me that one aid would
be allowed me, and that his identity
must not be known until it might be
decided to reveal it after his safe
arrival on the other side.
Il chose Commander J. V. Babcock,
who was my aid at Newport. We both
put on civilian clothes, dropped our
names, and assumed others more suit
able to the occasion.
and Robertson as near as I can recall.
can't think of the full names, and
am not sure that these are correct,
but that's how l seem to remember
them.
"We sailed from New York on March
81. 1917 on he Steamship New York. No
one on he seamer recognized US, and
we passed the trip as ordinary
voyagers.
"We received news of the declara-
ton OF war by the ships wireless on
April 5, but it did not disturb US. We
reached Liverpool on April 9 in a
thick fog. Entering the harbor the
New York struck mine which blew a
hole in one of her forward compart-
ments. We were not specially dis
turbed by that, either.
AT Liverpool we went ashore like
any one else. A special train was
waiting at the landing stage, however,
With Admiral Hope Of the British
Admiralty. II waited there until we
got aboard, then pulled out for London.
Reaches London Incognito
I'VE arrived in London on April 10,
still wearing civilian clothes. We went
at once to the Admiralty Offices, where
we mad conference with Admiral
On April 13, at luncheon in London,
tne United States Ambassador made a
Iormai announcement that l had ar
rived @ IN the country. After that 1
went about in uniform"
referring to his appointment he
aaIa: was the logical selection for
nuin9er OF reasons had been navaI
sNI "ssaShe az faris from 1897 to 1900.
49, bsen tne French language. l had
seeh 70 England about every winter
rom 1902 to 1909 to talk yunnerv
slsh the British Admiralty chiefs. like
nanirai Jellicoe and Admiral Scott.
s.'ew Ine British and French naval
;asaas, and for three years I had been
so,;lIa ;IlIIlnnand Of the Atlantic torpedo
"'''iia on this side"
Praises Naval Co0peration
me cooperative arrangements be-
'eh 'ne naval forces of the Allies
vas complete. There never was sim
s'' instance Of friction. The work of
'N' American naval forces was brill
:. "'' 0a' want to take this opportunity
~ emphasizing the wonderful display
si'' and endurance shown by the
.'saant seanen Of the Allies. With
q. '"em the war would have been lost
."sfs iS no praise strong enough tc
s'o ~s 'neir persistent gallantry"
=, ing ~as the way Admiral Sims paid
'si"ate to the sailors who helped
inc war. He briefly outlined the
~ arn VI tne United States naval forces.
Dae'ng the war;" he said, "thcre
'o'ooo officers and men actively
fnea sasea IN European waters. OF these
~" ,, were officers. There are rs, 900
..s chiefly engaged in transporting
"''ps and supplies.
Absolutely No Friction
nen we entered. the war the frs
nHshs was gix degtroycrs sent
80 W engage in offensive operations
s1'nst the submarine warfare. Tbesc
s put 70 work at once where they
sie most needed. Then, az thc others
ned out. " '
s. Ifofa the first adopted the policy