The Irish standard., 1920-02-14

square away from those bayonet:
England has no power. 1t is obvious
that England cannot keep soldier on
every square foot of Ireland"
The Naval Controversy.
Both sides in the naval controversy
precipitated by the charges of Real
Admiral William s. Sims, are makint
extensive preparations for the Senate
Inquiry, which will begin as soon a
the naval awards investigation is ou
of the way. Admiral Sims has sale
that his criticism was directed main
ly at the civilian administration OF
the Navy Department during the war
Nevertheless, the most conspicuous
figure in the Departments defense will
be Rear Admiral William S. Benson
who was Chief of Naval Operation
during the entire period of the wal
and, as such, was chiefly responsible,
for the strategy and disposition of
the vessels Of the United States Navy
Admiral Benson's work as Chief OF
Operations has in no way been criti-
cized except insofar as he may be re-
garded as the spokesman for Secre-
tary Daniels and his chief naval ad,
wiser. None the less, the fact that
Admiral Benson is a Catholic and
might have been made indirectly a
target for the charges of Rear Ad.
miral Sims, who has been notoriously
pro-British, has not escaped attention
There is no justification for the
assumption that Admiral Sims meant
to imply that Rear Admiral Benson
was responsible for the alleged verbal
orders to keep clear of British com
plications. On the contrary, it is tc
be doubted that Admiral Sims had Ad
miral Benson, his superior office, In
mind when he made his sensational
statement to the Senate committee
But, because of the rather extraordi
nary situation that exists with respect
to the relations of the United States
and Great Britain arising out of tht
Irish question and the League of Ma
tions controversy, there has been 8
disposition in some quarters to regard
the two rear admirals as representa-
tive of the two conflicting points ot
view. ....
Whatever the effect of the investi
cation as to clearing up the larger
questions Of controversy, 1t is prob
able that it will also allay any further
discussion of this minor phase Of the
dispute and show, as Admiral Sims
has said, that, although the naval ad
ministration might have been at fault
the service, itself was sound.
| Prohibition.
Whatever the merits or demerits OF
prohibition may be, officials of the
Government, charged with the enforce
ment of the law, are beginning to
realize that their way is beset with
difficulties. The wave of Indignation
aroused by the commissioners re-
quest sent out to all the clergymen
Of the country asking them to co.
operate in the enforcement of the law
has not yet subsided. Scores of let
ters from clergymen of all denomina
tions protesting vehemently agains;
the suggestion have been received BY
the Commissioner of Internal Reve
nue.. Most of the writer's resent the
implication that 1t is the business Of
the churches to seek out the law.
breakers. A typical one is that from
DR.. Henry Davies, pastor of Christ
Protestant Episcopal Church at Eas-
ton, Maryland, who says:
when, however, you ask me as a
I, clergyman to sacrifice my private con-
victions and join with those who have
made prohibition a political issue for
many years is an effort to enforce
their creed on others by political
means, think you are exceeding your
sphere and trenchfng on the moral
aspect of the question. Prohibition
used to be moral question; 1t is no
more; it is one Of politics, and hence
clergymen must refrain from active
participation II they would fulfill their
true vocation and ministry.
"You say that the period of debate
is past and that the law will be mer-
cilessly enforced by every means in
the power of the Government. think
that is the only course that could be
pursued. But protest against the
attempt to mix the church in politics
in this endeavor."