Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-01-20
WORLD SCANDAL IS
STIRRED BY SINS. !
LAWRENCE ASSERTS
Admiral Once aiken to Task
by Taft Navy Bitter Over
Activities of 0ffiicer-leal-
ouSieS Are Aired
BY DAVID 1AwRENcE

BY DAVID LAWRENcE
Copyright, 1920, for The Atlanta JeurnaI.y
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19.-Admiral
Sims, referred to joeularly in naval
circles as the best British admiral
in the American navy" because of
his sympathetie attitude toward the
British navy, for which American
sailors always, have entertained the
keenest rivalry, has stirred up an
other international scandal e
Once before, President Taft felt
obliged to reprimand Commander
Sims for what became famous sas
his blood is thicker than water
speech. Whether a reprimand is fiji
store for Admiral Sims this, time is
conjectural. Certainly Secretary Dan
iels never. told him that he must
not let the British pull !, the wool
over his eyes" md that America
would as soon fight the British as
the Germans" If anybody, said that
to Admiral Sims, it was high naVa
ticeTs have seen wont to express;
y
the confidence of their own privaJe
conversations.
Indeed, if every thing some or
our high naval officers have
from time to time said about
other navies were to appear III
print, more than one governments
would be demanding an apology and
a retraction. And if everything the
British naval officers have said about
the American navy or the British
staff officers have said about the
American army were to be published.
more than one American would be
hot under the collar. But what naval
and military men say publicly in all
countries is usually tempered by the
knowledge that diplomacy and inter
national courtesy forbids the making
public of such remarks because OF
irritating effects on International re-
Iations
Differences Announced
The department of state, for in
stance, promptly saw the .indiscre-
ton in Admiral Sims, latest remark
on Sunday and advised secretary
Daniels to make a statement, which
he did promptly in; his letter tc the
chairman OF the senate naval affairs
( committea Unqiestionabfy some
body in the navy departments did
caution AdTairal Sims not 20 be hkes
guilsd he Erie sli a dissiral ". And
4 it wses irolr BIZ fs;ictiUH D a.
! tween a ah1ifa.1s Sims, taking thes
side OF the British, asd the office
of naval operations in the United
States defending the traditions of
the American navy, became pro-
nounced. H
AS one official in the navy depart
ment remarked Every thing that
the British did or wanted, looked
right to Sims, and everything the
American navy did, or wanted looked
wrong. In the same spirit Admiral
Sims opposed the laying Of the mine
b2rrage which effectually closed the
North sea to German submarines and
we had the hardest time convincing
both the British admiralty and Ad-
miral Sims that it should be DONE
Perhaps if congress broadens the
investigation it will find many other
interesting things. For example, It
will be found that the British gov
eminent offered to make Admiral
Sims a member of the British adj
miraIty and without,5=declining the
honor himself, he asked the navy
departments opinion and urged ac7
ceptance. The navy = Department.
promptly inquired if the British adj
miralty had offered to take in the
naval representatives of France
Italy or Japan, and the answer came
back that the honor had been re-
served as a distinguished mark for
the United States alone, whereupon
the reply that was quickly eabled
back to Admiral Sims said in effect,
Certainly not
Rivalry General
Throughout the war there was a
good deal of jealousy and rivalry
between the naval commanders. IL !
was so in the army, TOO! For instance
it was an open secret in France thar
General March, chief of staff In the
United States. didn't get along any
TOO well with General Pershin8,
tommander-in-ch on the other
side. This often happens when brief
cablegrams and a distance Of three
Thousand miles separate officials
iron, .heir home offices. IA
Logically Captain Gleaves should
have gone to Europe just before the,
outbreak of the war, as Americas
naval part, il we entered the war;
would fall, it was recognized, upon
destroyers and Captain Gleaves was
in command Of our destroyer flotilla
Bus because Admiral Sims had a
reputation for getting along well
with the British" he was selected.
And he did many splendid things
which won him the admiration of the
navy department.
When me war was over, Admiral
Sims asked for the post of executives
1T the navy war college. 1t was re
liably reported that he really. want
ed to be made commander-in-ehief OF
the Atlantic fleet. In truth,-he did
not apply for the job himself, bat
devoted his time to opposing the
selection Of Rear Admiral Henry r..
Wilson, VINO lad been in command Of
navar operations off the coast o.
Trance, where The great bulk Of
American troops were SSaSAlK landed
during the most destructive activiA
ties of submarines. But the navy
department didn't listen to Admiral
SIMS objections to Admiral Wilson
when he charged him with being o
roor subordinate. Moreove" there
was considerable. friction between