South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-19
Other Editors Than Ours
BURSTING THE BUBBLE.
louisville Courier-Journal.)

Admiral Sims. in letter o the New York Times
bursts the bubble reputation which he elsewhere
than at the lannon's mouth and willingly or con-
scously lie that he duty in Paris when
the American destroyers arrived Queenstown and
that ne did not say in response Baylys in
qury as to when the destroyers would be ready
ton against the German submarines: I'VE can start
at once. We made preparations the way"
The simple statement of the preparedness of the
American destroyers, at the end of a S.OOOmiIe voy-
aee has become as famous Admiral Dewey's you
may fire when you ready GridIey.' Had Admiral
Sims been in Queenstown he might have said what
has been attributed him. Had he il he would
have been guilty of exaggeration but ne explains
Commander Joseph K. Taussg charge of the
destroyers, and his reply Admiral Bayly was that
the vessels could begin action they could be
Admiral Sims has been quoted as having said but not
in form.
Maj Whtelsey declares that he did not tell the Ger
mans to to hell when they ordered him surrender
but prove alibi. The public may take
issue with him, open the ground that in sudden ARRAY
things he would not say for publication
and that of the distinguishing characteristics 81
the species is deny the witness stand violent
Language alleged to have been employed in the alter
cation. But there's ground for taking issue with
Admiral Sims. His alibi is complete. Official
Will show that he in Paris when he is alleged
have said in Queenstown; we start at We
made preparations the way"
Perhaps Dieneces Thermopylae didn't say when
told that the Persian darkened ky Good
We shall fight in the shade"
Perhaps julius Caesar didn't send the dispatch
NenL vidi. vicL" a capsule of sheer bombast.
defeating Pharnaces Very probably the conquest of
Sind, which legend announced by single
word. ''Peccavi." wasn't announced by the victor
Possibly Gen. stark didn't declare during the battle
OF Bennington that the Americans would win Molly
Stark would be widow Paul Jones' for all this gener
alton knows actually TO the contrary, may have
said: e" have just begun to fight" Farragut may not
have said. exactly: Damn the tOrpedoes Go ahead"
NOltaire facing a reckoning with the Deity he had
denied. may have said: "Oh. God, II there be
God. have mercy upon my soul if l have a soul"
Probably nobody Waterloo said The Guard
dies surrenders." But these cases
alibi made. As a result literature and oratory
have been enriched words quotable and applicable
I'm many instances.
Epgram markers. laboring leisure. if paradox
is pardonable. make many OF these utterances
that add luster the and fame celebrities
The world much their invention. per
always should be careful attribute striking
words a admiral a general who present
at the time and place of the alleged utterance and
whose absence be proved If he have a conscience
and the disposition discard reputation created by
we'll meaning admirers
IL is pity that Admiral Sims duty else
where. and didn't say what he is alleged to
But is impossible contradict his assertion that
was Paris. supplemented by the statement-that he
lcannot imagine how the arose