El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-01-20
ADMIRAL SINS
EAIQR5 BRITISH

the job himself. but devoted his time
10 opposing the selection Of rear ad-
mlral Henry b. Wilson. who had been
in command Of naval operations off
The coast Of France, where the great
bulk OF American troops were safely
landed during the most ID destructive
activities o1-subularInes--- --
The navy department didn't listen
to admiral Slms's objection to ad-
nliral Wilson, whom he charged with
being a poor subordinate. Moreover.
there was considerable friction be-
tween admiral Sims and admiral BEN
son. chief Of naval operations. who
went to France with the American
war mission.
Bitter Feeling in Navy.
There is a good deal Of bitter feel
ing in naval circles over admiral
Sims's activities and far from being
simply the usual attack on q civilian
secretary Of the navy by the pro-
fessional navy men, this controversy
runs deep into naval ethics, naval
1ealouSies and naval personalities
For instance, resentment appeared
over She statement issued by admiral
Sims TO the general effect il was the
British navy who got our trOOps.9lo
Europe safely. Admiral Gleaves felt
compelled 10 issue a statement giving
the exact figures. and while it is true
that the British merchant marine
which had always been larger than
P
IN Europe. the United States ships
carried &c percent. But as lar as
actually getting our troops safely TO
Europe. the impression LETT on the
public mind by admiral Sims's state
ment was that British destroyers and
naval vessels actually conveyed more
American troops than did our own
aeStroyers- The official figures show
that only zSfOeU american troops
went to Europe under the British
escort while L-720- ESQ went under the
escort OF the united navy The per
centage is 81 percent under American
escort, Il under British escort and
o percent under French escort
Sfns's work Not Diseredited.
Nobody in the navy department is
inclined TO discredit the work Of ad-
miral Sims abroad. for while he was
ashore all the time and men like
Gleaves, Wilson. Monro. Benson and
others had tasks Of the same impor-
Sims had an especially delicate job
in fraternizing with the British ad-
miralty, where 2 supposed disposition
20 look upon the navy as an mex
crude. often ruffled the pride OF
American naval officers.
There is one thing in admiral Sims s
charges that VIII bring out an in
teresting phase Of the war. While
admiral Sims was asking f0r more
swering the pleas Of the British and
French on this side that the United
States take over Central and South
American waters and thus relieve the
British and French warsl1ips for serr-
ice on the other side; while the oLLlce
OF chief Of naval operations in Wash
iuEton was anxious to do all il could
to grant the request Of admiral Sims
in London. IL had at the same time
other points on the map to look after
i had TO keep in the closest touch
with what was going on at Brest and
off the coast OF France and with ac-
tual naval operations, as these were
Iot managed from London at all but
our destroyers and our battleshlps
were under the direct command Of
ad1nirals OF the British navy at sea
Controversy DivertirfE-
But the lamentable part OF the
controversy is that while il rehearses
the mistakes or lessons Of the war,
q. begins 10 focus attention anew on
past history and diverts again the
minds of the legislative branches Of
the government from the most I'M
u0rtant Of ali duties. namely the es-
Establishment Of American influence IN
the council of nations 50 that wars
may become 3 thing OF the past As
Philip Gibbs cabled from London the
other day. the military and naval men
ever there. and doubtless over here.
are not vet ready Ito get the smell
Of blood out Of their nOstrils- copy
right. 1920. The FL PasO Herald