Evening star., 1920-01-19
SIMS CASE REEVES
STORIES Of NAVAL
JEALOUSY IN WAR
Conditions During Conflict
Caused by Operations
5000 Miles Away.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Admiral Sims referred to jocularly
IN naval circles as the best British
admiral in the American Navy" be-
cause of his sympathetic attitude
toward the British navy. for which
American sailors have entertained al
ways the keenest rivalry, has stirred
UP another international scandal
once before, President Taft felt
Obliged to reprimand the then Com
as his blood List tKicks sthsn.water
speech: Whether a reprimand is in
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 and that America would as
soon fight the British as the Germans"
If anybody said that to Admiral
Sims it was high naval officer in
the department, who relied on Ad-
miral Sims discretion not to repeat
that admonitfon any more than the
remarks which naval officers have
been wont to express about every
navy under the sun in the confidence
OF their own private conversations.
Indeed, il everything some Of our
high naval officers have from time to
time said about other navies were to
appear in print, more than one govern
ment would be demanding an apology
the British naval officers have said
about the American Navy or the Brit
ish staff officers have said about the
American Army were to be published,
more than one American would be hot
under the collar.
What naval and military men say
publicly in all countries is usually tenn
pered by the knowledge that diplomacy
and international courtesy forbid the
making public of such remarks because
of irritating effects on international
relations.
state Departments Advice.
The Department Of State, for in
stance. promptly saw the indiscgetion
IN Admlra! Sims latest remark on
sunday. and advised Secretary Daniels
TO make statement, which he did
promptly in his letter to the chairma n
OF the Senate naval affairs committee.
Internationally somebody in the
Navy Department did caution Admiral
Sims not to be beguiled by the British
admiralty. And it was not long be-
fore friction between Admiral Sims. TAX
ing the side of the British. and the
office OF naval operations in the United
States, defending the traditions of the
american Navy, became pronounced.
AS one official in the Navy Department
remarked:
Everything that the British did or
AO~AACo
thing the American Navy did or wanted
looked wrong. In the same spirit. Adj
m!ral Sims opposed the LAYING Of the
mine barrage, which effectualiy closed
tne North sea to German submarines
ana we had the hardest time Convincing
Sims that it should be DONE 1''
Perhaps II Congress broadens tho in
vestlgation it will find MANY other
interesting things. For examnle IL
Will be found that the British govern
ment onered to make Admiral sims a
nitho',t ~ Lne BRUSH admiralty, and
ne asked the Navy Department:s nnin'
ION and urged acceptance. The No.,
department promptly inquired If The
British admiralty had offered to take
"a It.iW Inc M mayai @ representatives of France,
back that the honor had been reserved
as distinguished mark for the ITn;ted
states alone. whereupon the reply tha :
was quickly cabled back to Admir-
sims said In effect: Certainly not"
Rivalry Among COMMANDER.
Inroughout the war there was a
good deal of jealousy and rivalry h.o
tween the naval commanders. II was
so in the Army. too. For instance IL
was an open secret in France fhst -
Gen. March, chief of star in .he
United states. didn't get along anv too
wen with Gen. Pershing. commandsr.
in-chief on the other side. This often
happens where there are brief cshisA
grams, and distance of 5000 miles
separates officials from their home oTs
dces. Ao oA-
Logically. Capt. Gleaves should have
gone to Europe just before the onts
break OF the war. as Americas naval
part, If we entered the war. would
fall. 1t was recognized. upon DESTROY
ers, and Gleaves was in command ~
our destroyer fiotilla. But because
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 the war was over Admiral
Sims asked for the post of executive
at the Navy War College. 1t was
reliably reported that he really want
ed to be made commander in n-chief of
the Atlantic feet. In truth. he did
not apply for the job himself, but
devoted his time to opposing the 80
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