South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-01-25
THE CASE OF ADMIRAL SIMS THAT OF
THE ARMY AND NAVY LEAGUE.

I TITLE by little It keeps leaking out; the sudden
l. of antagonism to secy Daniels AMI
criticism Of the navys part in the conduct Of the
war launched by Admiral Sims flannel
mcuthing Quite might been expected from
the start, u such small calbe-, needed some
outside backbone from somewhere He appears
quite distinctly the mere mouthriece OF the old
hrmy and Navy league which the secretary silenccd
quite summary upon entrance into the war;
the Army and Navy league CT Charley Schwab and
Eugene Grace. who well how navy
should be constructed and operated--n the best
interests OF the armor-pate manufacturers.
Ditto the Army end Navy league Of the United
stats movers association and the concoctors of
distilled liquors and wines-very much peeved over
sec'y Daniels attitude toward liquor in the navy,
and of its service at social functions. 1t may be
remembered that long before declaration OF
war; long before the passage of war prohibition or
the 18th amendment. liquor had been outawed
among the enlisted men in the army and navy.
virtually through the abolition Of the
The secretary of the navy set down his foot ad-
vancing order that what bad for the
bad for the officers above them: that the officers
should an example for their men, rather than
aggravation through the enjoyment of such
special privileges.
1t the signal for loud outburst Of con-
Daniels at once became incompetent, and all sort
Of things while employing the same line of propa-
ganda, secy of War Garrison refusing to follow
suit the point OF resgning his cabinet
portfolio, lauded to the skies-not Of course
giving the real reason, but picturng him rather
the ne Illus ultra Of preparedness" The over,
naturally the league. still nursing its peeve.
sought resurrection and in Admiral Sims it appears
to have found excuse. The was Embossed
from the bag when he addressed that league din
at New York Tuesday night.
Oh yes. the navy was perfectly solid, and all
right The difficulties were administrative not op-
erative," says the admiral. and there you get the
personal anmus exactly what the Army and Navy
league wants hilariousy vented upon the navy sec
rotary. The fact that Admirals Mayo and Benson
were the real administrative forces. as well as op.
erative directors far concerned the ships at
sea, doesn't TO appeal to the admiral at
all. to his applauding audiences.
Why Rear Admiral Sims told. IL he
told. not to 'let the British pull the wool his
eyes" that we were more interested in our own
army. than in England's? The answer is
hard find. because he has always been
more pro-British than pro-American. He Ilaced
in charge OF the fleet in British because it
thought he might cooperate better with the
British navy than any other American officer might;
would cooperate better because he would be more
IN his element-close TO the British flag. Most any
other American officer wouldn't needed have been
told mot to let the British pull the wool over his
eyes"
And when they did. and Sims wanted sub
marine chasers withdrawn from the protection %
transports and thrown into the submarine
for the protection OF British transports and
merce, though transports with their
goes of human freight be watery DOOM
why course. administrative failure TO
cooperate with the British. not to do so. in
sequence Of which, suppose. the is going
yet. Instead of Admiral Sims being eulogzed for
what ne IL saying about naval administrative in
efficiency he ought be tried for treason. and the
who eulogizes him is less a traitor than h.
Assuredly Admirals Mayo and Benson did not
occede any such traitorous request assuredly
Sccy Daniels confirmed their judgment. Turn our
transports loaded with boys the battle
front. loose the Atlantic unprotected by our
navy in order that he submarine zone around Eng
land and the channel might be made safer for
Britain II inefficient administration OF the
navy 20 refuse such monstrosity: we'll it was ex-
actly the kind OF inefficient administration that We
needed. and If the admiral and his Army and
Navy league don't like IT, let them go to England
and stay there-whcre their allegiance seems more
home.