Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-04-08
Sims Sent Secretly
To England Ten Weeks
Before G. S. Entered War

New YDrk- April 7.-Huw ReRr Adj
mirz0 William S. Sims. accpmpan,ed BY
one aide. I1rnceeded incpgnitp INTO Eng
land under navy department ortieu IS
sued him Two weeks before the United
StAtes entered the war against Ger
many, was tuld the Associated P-ess
by the admiral here tonight on his re-
turn from oxerseas- In reply to CUES
Tons ne give IN simple words a
straightforward account of his mission,
passing with dispassionaie cuntemp,
over many an incident OF his adven-
ture that well could he incorporated
On March = OF q, 1E11. the admiral
sad. while ne WIS nesident Of the
Naval War College at Newport he was
ordered to report without delay TO
the secretary of the nzvv at Warming
ton. He was not notified Of the nature
Of the business To he discussed. Upon
his arrival there he was received III
secret conference with Secretary Dan
,sis and Admiral Benson, chief OF naval
operations.
He WIS. toid that IT ''looked as though
we shall go 10 ar AND il WAS briefly
explained that he Was TO go at onne
TO see the people the other sitie
and reach an understanding as TO how
the United States best could cooperate
with ailieu sea forces IN operations
against Germany. One aide wouln ne
allowed 70 accompany him. he was
told. and his identity must not be known
IL =. ,evt7s he ,larf tn
after his safe arrival abroad.
Commander J V Bahcock of New
Hampton. Ia, aide 10 Admiral Sims at
Newport. waK chosen 20 accompany HIM
and both officers immediately LAID aside
their uniforms and doomed civilian
clothing.
simultaneously they dropped their
names and assumed others more suit
a hle TO the OCCASION Admiral Sims
Said ne did not clearly rememne. what
name ne bore on his incognito adven-
ture
''Rabcock and 7 chose Richardson
and Robertson. as near rs I can re
call" he salG. II cant think Of the
full names and ! am not IT all sure
that these are correct. But that's how
! seem TO remember then'
The admiral and his aide sailed from
the port Of New York March g. 1871, IN
me steamer New York. ne said. No
one on board recognized them and they
PASSED the time as ordinary voyagers
without feeling any unusual fear Of
their identities being revealed.
News Of the declaration Of war by
the United States on April reached
them by tt1- ships wireless news ser-
vice. II did nuf disturb them Enter
ing Liverpnnl harmon On April 8 IN 4
thick yniet the Steamer struck d mine
AND q hole Was blown in one Of her
forward COMPARTMENTS. but the admiral
and his aide were moi especially dis
llIrbed' by that, either,
There was no reception commission 70
meet them al the cocks in liverpool.
Admiral Sims said. They went ashore
unnuriced like anybody else" A spe-
cial train VIE waiting in the Liverpool
railroad Yards. however with Admiral
Pope on bncrd. representing The Brit
ism admiralty. II imply stood there
until Admiral Sims and hts AIDE climbed
aboard Then il pulled out for London.
They arrived IL London April III. moth
Admiral Sims AMI Commander BancocS
sr.I! wearing heir civilian clothes. They
went at once 70 the admiralty nfnces
where Admiral Sims went into rnnfe.
ence .rrlmedia1e!v with Admiral Jellicoe.
On April IL. al luncheon in London,
the United States ambassador made the
first formal announcement that Admira !
Sims had arrived in the country. After
that he Admiral and i:is aibe reappea.-
ed in their naval uniforms and went
about as their real selves, abandoning
the names Of Richardson and Robert
son. for all time.
Commenting on how J happened 20
he the of.irer selected 70 20 aboard,
Admiral Sims said:
''Y was the logicel selection for MIN
her of reaso1E. ! had been naval at
eaches at PARIS rom IET 70 Fe00.
speak The French language. ! had
beer m England ahnut eve-v winter
from 1872 70 1853 o talk sunnery with
their Admiralty cniefs Xix. Admiral Je!1
Iicoe and Admiral Scott Knew the
British and French naval heads. And
for three years 7 had been IN corn-
rnand of the Atlarti- torpedo fu.illa or