Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-04-10
CONVOY SYSTEM
A War WINNER
Admiral Sims, Home from Eu.
rope, Describes One of the Big
Factors that Worked Toward
Victory Over Germany
RECEIVES BIG RECEPTION
Com mandcr OF u. =. Naval Operations
Abrond Declares Germany WINS VIM
ming the WAR Mt the Time America
Entered the Great Conflict

New York. April THE convoy system
which many naval men had termed i'm
practicable. over the German submarine
menace and figured tremendously In the
winning of the war, Rear-Admiral Will
| liam S. Sims, commander-in-chief Of the
| American navy's forces in European
waters, declared to-day on his arrival
here aboard the British liner Mauretania.
Depth charges and listening devices, he
said, contributed materially to success in
maintaining practically unbroken the
transatlantic bridge of transports and
supply ships essential to the allied VIC
tory. as did the magnificent work. of
the merchant seamen. who took their
cargoes across, convoy or no convoy"
But it was the conveying scheme, worked
out to "a fine detail by the combined fleets
of the associated powers. the officer as
serted, which made possible the trans
portaton and supplying of the great
American force whose appearance In
battle with the allies turned the tide
against the German invaders OH the
western front
Germany was winning the war. the
rear-admiral stated when he arrived In
England the day after the United States
became a belligerent Teuton interference
with allied shipping, he added. was n
serious problem, solved only when con-
ferences of the British, American and
allied commands worked out and put
into practice the system of protecting
vital ships which prevailed until the
cessation of hostilties.
A vice admiral while he was abroad,
under a temporary ranking. Admiral
Sims returned in the uniform OF a rear
admiral-his rank before the war. He
came back as we'll to the life which the
call to foreign service forced him leave
as husband and father
When he left the Mauretania. whose
progress into the harbor was marked
by a reception as picturesque as 1t was
eloquent of the nations and city's tribute
TO home coming victor, the rear ad-
miral boarded the naval yacht Aramis
and stepped into the circle of his fam
lily. Greeting his wife, three children
and three sisters, the officer chatted
happily, declaring that his greatest re-
greet in connection with the war was his
inability to have his family with him, a
hardship which he shared with 5000 Off
GERS under his command. From his fam
lily the returning commander turned to
} Rear Admiral ID. II. Burrage. who ex-
J tended the formal welcome Of the navy
department. To this was added by Mayor
Hylan that Of the city of New York, then
the Aramis reached the battery. There
also greetings were extended by repre-
J sentatives of Rear Admiral Gleaves OF
} the naval transport service and Rodman
, Wanamaker, chairman Of the mayor s
committee on welcome to home coming
troops.
e The Mauretania entered the harbor In
e mid afternoon. She was delayed since
early morning by fog which shrouded
: the coastal waters for many miles
great fleet of airplanes. their wings
flashing in the sun which succeeded the
mornings fog, heralded the approach OF
the transport. bearing the admiral, his
staff. and 1850 troops and escorted by
1 aotilla Of destroyers and smaller naval
| craft In din of salutes from the
B.. harbor forts, whistles from welcoming
b. vessels and cheers of the officers soldier
e shipmates the big vessel lay-to of
!, quarantine while the trans shipment took
place.
b, AS the admiral stepped aboard the nava
= yacht, his raise flag shot up the mainmast
t and the guardshp Amphitrte. which had
s withheld it's salute while he was aboard g
foreign vessel loosed it's guns.
Z The escortlng destroyers remained IT
u the lower bay, but the air planes. with
: pair of kite balloons towed by launches
g proceeded on up the bay continuing the
r winged welcome until the admiral hat
r set foot on home soil.
= From the battery the party went by au
: tomoble to an uptown hotel. The admira
: passed through cheeroing crowds and wat
n showered by confetti from office windows
n Admiral Sims termed his reception won
derful" He had expected no formal wei
t,ey IN
:. ily and GO direct to washington for con
a ference with navy officials. afterward pro
g ceeding to his home at Newport. X. |. RI
o was met by J. p. Mahoney, mayor OF tina
city. who obtained his promise to appeal
d Friday evening at n reception arranged
a by the admiral's fellow citizens.
d The admiral declared the relations be
= tween his forces and the British had bee'
ideal
Eve went over there to get into the wa
-, in any way we could do the most GOOD
he stated "All manosnvras OF the gram
fleet were the result Of conferences De
= tween the British and American stairs an
&c there were no differences Of opinion. w
operated between 900 and 400 vessels, man
ned by 5000 officers and men In complet
harmony with the British, and relation
10 now, with 150 vessels and 3,oo men re
naming are just as cordial
He added that American naval Graz
- had operated from the White sea to Cor
- stantinople, assisting the war dcpar'
i. ment, shipping board and relief commit
=, sions.
1--WE were a minority In the allied Meet
;. he continued, "but we had the satisra'
~ ton of knowing that In quaned "
~ ranked, ship for ship. with the best
"a them"
~ OF the merchant seamen. the rea
Ladrntral spoke in high praise, Declaring
AThey stood by us through II all. an
some Of them. 1t seemed. could NOT g
N tospedoed often enough TO su4 Um.
30 He said ''There might haxe BEEN . al
=. fersut story to teIf' bait Aps~~he nr1
40 of thuse nsn N Sf3uAdng to thsG pos
'n and fusashtang Amss,can suuptes
u Europe regardless n Whether cousna
a. were available.
10 Tho war, he added, had given 1ofh'u
VI navy end the merchant nasEd4 t'ut
apprecfntion Of the others wogfh
THEY HIT THE 'sPOp