The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1920-02-05
ADMIRAL sims IS
Held UP TO SCORN
SCATHING DENUNCIATION BY
REPRESENTATIVE BYRNES,
OF SOUTH CAROLINA

ure in the naval decorations contro-
.versy and in the pending Senate in
vestigation of the Navy's conduct OF
the war, was vigorously attacked
last week at Washington, in the
House by representative Byrnes'
Democrat, South Carolina.
Declaring that if the Admiral was
admonished by a high naval official
not to let the British "pull the WOOL
over his eyes, as he testified recently
before the Senate Naval Decorations
Committee, he violated confidence
in making the instructions public
Representative Byrnes said, he de-
served "the condemnation of every
American and a dishonorable dis
charge from the Navy"
Characterizing Admiral Sims as a
s.hyphenated politician" Mr.. Byrnes
charged that when serving as COM
mander of American naval forces in
European waters during the war he
had "libeled the Army and depreciat-
ed the work of the Navy, and had urg-
ed that the United States leave the
control of the seas to Great Britain.
Democratic members frequently in
terrupted Representative Byrnes with
applause, and when he concluded,
Democratic members arose, cheering
and clapping their hands.
Representative Hustled, Republican,
New York, referring to Mr.. Byrnes'
assertion that Sims possibly should
be "dishonorably discharged" from
the Navy, asked whether the officer
: who admonished him not to let the
British pull the wool over his eyes"
ought not be removed, but the Demo-
cratic members said the admonition
was justified in view of Admiral
Sims, "pro-B British attitude"
Accused of Slander.
He added that the Admiral's dis
closure might "endanger the peace Of
the country" Representative Hicks,
Republican, New York, remarked that
it undoubtedly had disturbed "the
peace of the Democrats"
while in Paris, on October 30,
1918," said Mr.. Byrnes, admiral
Sims told Representatives Glass, Of
Virginia; Whaley, of South Carolina,
and myself, that the armistice asked
for by the enemy would have to be
granted because of the failure OF
Pershing to break through the Ger
man ranks, due to the disastrous
breakdown in transportation behind
the American lines. We visited the
headquarters of the service of sup
plies and found that only few days
previous Pershing had written it con-
graduating the bureau upon its Won
derful work in supplying the forces
IN the field. His statement was false,
and for his inexcusable slander he
should be made to answer to the
American do;.ghboy."
"He not only libeled the Army but
he deprecated the work of the Navy"
continued Byrnes who read copy of
the London Times quoting speech
of Admiral Sims, giving credit to the
British for transporting and convey
ing twice as many American troops
and merchant ships to Europe during
the war as did the American Navy
and declaring that only three per
cent. of the anti-submarine craft in
European waters was American.
Hailed Baked Again
"This speech" Representative
Byrnes continued, "was false from
beginning to end. Sims was so busy
fighting the war over the dining ta-
bles of London that he did not know
how many vessels he had under his
command.
.t-.., Ills StdICiICuS t.ioe VIC Aesk sAeAho
; ported only one-third of our troops
was false.
"His statement that we had escort
ed but one-half our troops was equal
ly false.
"His statement that we escorted
only one-third of the merchant YES
sells that come here is false.
Br"Having visited the battleields OF
Ypres and the Grand Fleet during
the war, l was impressed with the
magnificent part played by British
arms in the war, and nothing this
hyphenated politician could say will
either add to or detract from the
glory of the English people. His eff
for to fiatter them by slandering the