The Washington times., 1920-01-27
Congressman Calls Statements
Abroad a SIander Of United
States Forces.
NOT IN TOUCH WITH EVENTS
$50 Busy Fighting War Over
Dining Tables He Did Not
Know Facts of Own Office"

Dishonorable discharge for Rear
Admiral William S. Sims because Of
his recent testimony before the Sen
ate Naval Committee was recon-
mended by Congressman Byrnes, OF
South Carolina, Democrat, in
speech in the House today.
Byrnes declared that if superior
officer did admonish Sims, on leav-
ing for England before the United
States entered the war, mot to let
the British pull the wool over your
eyes," the admiral, by repeating this
to the Senate committee, "is violat-
ing confidential instructions and de-
serves the condemnation of every
American and a dishonorablc dis
charge from the navy"
Slandered u. 8. Forces. -.
| s-eysv-ges that Sims. while serving
4 broad, slandered the -arnfy~ and navy,
ana Oeiittled American forces to the
giorihcation OF the British were made
by Byrnes-
natter the British by slandering the
army and navy OF the United States
will meet with the contempt OF every
true Engiishman, as II does OF every
true American" Several statements
regarding American participation. ac-
credited to Sims, were declared ~
Byrnes to be false. as shown by tho
records in Sims Office.
sims was so busy fighting the war
over the dining tables of London.
Byrnes said, that he did not take
time to look UP the actual facts in his
own Office.
Pathos for PershinE.
while in Paris on October 80, 1914
twelve days before the armistice was
signed, Admiral Sims told Congress
man-elect Glass of Virginia, now Sec
retary of the Treasury: Congressman
Whaley of South Carolina, and me
that the armistice asked for by the
enemy would have to be granted be-
cause of the failure of Pershing to
break through the German lines, due
to the disastrous breakdown in trans
portation behind the American lines
with pathos in his voice, Sims pic
tured this failure OF the army at
] critical moment We fell for his
| story, and rushed to General Perish
ing, only to find that a few days
previous Pershing had written the
Service OF Supplies congratulating X
upon the wonderful work OF supply
| ing the forces in the field. Sims state
ment was false, and for his inexcus-
able Islander he should be made -
answer to the American doughboy.
"Sims not only libeled the army,
but he deprecated the navy"
Didn't Know Own Force.
Byrnes then referred to a state
ment Of Sims in the London Times In
| which he said that out of 5000 anti
submarine craft operating, only 16o
were Americans.
| Records OF his office" the Con-
eressman said. "show that instead of
there being 5000 engaged, only 1000
could be found. Sims counted every
British bottom afioat to decrease the
American percentage. Instead OF
having only 100 vessels, Sims had
323 under his command"
! Referring to other statements OF
Sims while abroad, Byrnes said:
His statement that we had trans
ported only one-third OF our troops
was false. Department records give
| the percentage as 1928. His state
rent that we escorted but one-half
OF the transports and one-third OF the
merchant ships are both equally false.
His office reports show we escorted
S2.75 per cent of the former and 4"
per cent of the latter"
Byrnes also declared that Sims had
discouraged all American attempts
to build up a merchant marine.
| $50 convinced was that his Anglo
phobia made It impossible Tor him to
entertain a purely American view
| point that when ] returned TO this
country I advised one in authority
that for an American view the Navy
Department might as well appeal to
the British admiralty as to Sims,
IByrnes said. ''Rut nothing this
hyphenated politician can say vii.
add TO or detract from the glory Of
the British people"
The Senate today by vote OF ~
to 30 refused the question OF en- :
pioyins special counsel for It's in
vertipation of the Navy Department
and charges made by Admiral w. S,
Sims.