South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-08
CONVOY SYSTEM IS
PRAISED BY SIMS
Commander in-Chief of u. S.
Naval Forces in European
Waters Returns to Home.

NEW YORK. April S.-The con-
voy system. which many naval men
had termed impracticable overcame
the German submarine menace and
figured tremendously in the winning
Of the war. Rear Admiral William :.
Sims. commander in chief of the
American naval forces in European
waters declared Monday on his ar
rival here aboard the British liner
Mauretania Depth charges and
listening devices. he said. contributed
materially to success in maintaining
practically unbrOken the trans-Atlan-
tic bridge" of transports and supply
ships essential 20 the allied victory
as did the ma gnificent work" of the
merchant seamen who took their
charges across, convoy or no con-
voy." but it was the conveying
scheme. worked out to fine detail
by combined fleets of the associated
powers, the officer asserted. which
made possible the transportation and
supplying of great American force
whose appearance in battle with the
allies turned the tide against the Ger
man invaders on the western front.
Germany was winning the war. the
rear admiral said when he arrived
IN England the day after the United
States became a belligerent Teuton
interference with allied shipping, he
added, was a serious problem, solved
only when conferences of the Brit
ish. American and allied commands
worked out and put into practice the
system of protecting vital ships.
which prevailed until the cessation
of hostilities
4 vice admiral while he was
abroad, under a temporary ranking
Sims returned in the uniform of a
read admiral-his rank before the
war He came back as well. To the
life which the call 10 foreign service
forced him TO leave-as husband and
father.
Boards Naval Yacht.
When he left the Mauretania,
whose progress into the harboi was
marked by reception as pictur-
esque as it was eloquent of the ma
tons and city's tribute to a home
coming victor. the rear admiral
boarded the naval yacht Aramis. and
stepped into the circle Of his family.
Greeting his wife, three children and
three sisters. the officer chdtted
happily. declaring that his greatest
regret i'm connection with the war
was his inability TO have his family
with him. hardship which he
shared with 5000 officers under his
command.
From his family the returning
commander turned to Rear Admiral
d. II. Burrage, who extended the
formal welcome Of the navy depart
ment. To this was added Mayor Hy-
Ian, that Of the city of New York.
when the reahed the Battery.
There also were greetings extended
by representa- tives of Rear Admiral
Gleaves OF the naval transport serv-
ice, and Rodman Wanamaker, chair
man of the mayors committee on
welcome TO Homecoming troops.
The Mauretania entered the har-
Dor i'm mid afternoon delayed since
early morning by fog which
shrouded the coastal water for many
miles. A great fleet of airplanes.
their wings flashing in the sun.
which succeeded the mornings fog.
heralded the approach of the trans
port bearing the admiral. his staff,
and $3.50 troops and escorted by a
fiotilla of destroyers and smaller ma
val craft. In a din OF salutes from
the harbor forts, whistles from well
coming vessels and cheers of the Of
ticers' soldier ship mates, the big yes
sci lay 10 off Quarantine while the
trans-shipment took place.
Vessels Loose Guns.
AS the admiral stepped aboard the
naval yacht. his flag shot up the
main mast and the guardship Am
phitrite, which had withheld its sa %
lutte while he was aboard a foreign
vessel. loOsed its guns.
The eScorting destroyers re-
manned in the lower bay but the air-
planes with a pair Of kite balloons
lowed by launches. proceeded up the
bay and continued the welcome un-
til the admiral had set foot on home
soil. From the Baltic the party went
by automobile 10 an uptown hotel