Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-06-25
SIMS TO
GET REBUKE FROM
NAVY CHIEF DENNY
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Leased Wire Service to The Journal.)
downright. 1921


Copyright, 1921
WASHINGTON, June 23.-Admiral
Sims viii be rebuked. The. attitude
of the secretary of the navy in his
first conference with the admiral
after the latter's return from Eng.
land makes this conclusion inescape-
able. The secretary is undisturbed
by the propaganda for and against
the admiral seeking either to hush
up the affair or to have him punish-
ed. Mr.. DENLY looks at the episode
as a naval matter and not a politis
cal question.
The secretary asked Admiral Sims
| if he had been correctly quoted The
admiral said he had not been. If
Mr.. DENLY were disposed to let this
matter rest that would have been .
convenient stopping place. But he
didn't He inquired wherein Admiral
Sims had been incorrectly quoted
and insisted also that the admiral,
recall in writing as we'll as he could
what he did say. In front Of the
secretary of the navy were newspa-
per clippings showing that practi'
cally all the London newspapers
quoted Admiral Sims as saying about
the same thing. There was very lit
tie variation in phraseology and
none in meaning.
So Admiral Sims in a few days
will advise Secretary DENLY by
memorandum of the purport of his
remarks, perhaps in softer terms and
phrases but in any event the ques-
ton of what shall be done about the
| incident does not depend upon the
exact tone used by Admiral Sims but
in the fact that he discussed at all
a question SO controversial as the
Irish question and made reference In
any way to the American voters and
their relationship to the question.
Opinions Varied
| Mr.. DENLY has been bitterly criti-
cized for ordering Admiral Sims
home and for taking cognizance OF
the speech. He has been on the 9TH
er hand as severely counseled to take
summary action and dismiss the ad-
miral from the navy. The extremists
on either side will not have their
way.
Admiral Sims has too fine war
record to be stripped of his rank
or ordered out of the navy. A
mans war record always has stood
him in good stead in the, navy and
there is every reason to believe 1t
| will help Admiral Sims in the con-
| sideration of his case.
There are however, plenty of naval
regulations covering the Sims in
cident. The punishment for such
an offense as an injudicieus speech
ranges all the way from mild warn
nd ma md
martial and dismissal. Discretion IS
vested in the secretary of the navy.
Mr.. DENLY could convoke a court
of naval inquiry or a court martial
and review their findings but he is
loath to run. away from responsible
ity. He feels it is his duty TO the
navy to handle the thing himself
and to mete out proper discipline
so that it shall not be said that an
ensign or enlisted man is severely
punished while an admiral who
breaks naval regulations goes scot
free.
There isn't anything personal in
it. Mr.. DENLY and Admiral Sims had
a pleasant conversation, disposed OF
their business in a few minutes and
the secretary let it be known that
he wouldn't render decision until
the admiral had had an opportunity
to answer the query as to whether
he had been correctly quoted.
Not Concerned with Harvey
The secretary of the navy insists
| dependently at the white House.
He hasn't anything to do with the
indiscretions of Ambassador Harvey
who comes under the state depart-
ment. SO many people in their mes.
sageS have told Secretary DENLY that
he ought to let Sims alone because
Harvey wasn't punished for his
speech in London which offended SO
many members of the American
Legion.
But the secretary Of the navy
feels that he isn't dealing with Ann
bassador Harvey and that his only
obligation is - deal with Admiral
Sims irrespective Of what any other
department Of the government may
do.
Some people seem to think Am.
bassador Harvey was indirectly re-
buked by Secretary Hughes when the
latter in his speech at Brown uni
versity some time ago expressed q
view in absolute contradiction Of
Mr.. Harvey's original speech.
The rebuke for Admiral Sims, how
ever will not be indirect. 1t will
be published on board every ship in
the navy and at every naval station
| which, of course, is the practice
when reprimand is ordered. Ad-
miral Sims will be punished for his
| indiscretion. He has been repris
manded before, however, and the ex.
perience doesn't seem 20 have shaken
the aplomb of the veteran sea-dog
who STROBE the corridors Of the new
navy building today with the sans
serenity and confidence as If he
were pacing the quarterback.
A Washington dispatch says Adj
| miral Sims later handed Secretary
| DENLY a written statement about his
recent speech The naval secretary
has the statement under considera-
| ton and meantime it's text is with.
oa1d n