Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-06-15
DENNY ASKS SIMS
To EXPLAIN TALK
Senator Mccormick Asks PreSi-
dent to Rebuke Rear Admiral.
~IACKASSs SPEECH RESENTED
U. S. Naval Officers Bitter Attack on
Supporters Of the Irish Cause
Stirs Up a "Hornets' Nest" in
Washington.

Stirs Up Hornets Nest" in
Washington.
Washington, June 9.-Rear Admiral
William ). Sims Immediately must
diSavow his american jackass"
speech before the English-speaking
union in London or be publicly repri-
handed by Secretary of the Navy
DENLY.
This was made plain when Secre-
tary DENLY dispatched sharp cable
to Admiral Sims, expressing amaze
ment NJ published extracts of the
speech and calling for an acknowledge
ment or disavowal of the statements
/ by return cable.
The secretary's action followed n
visit 10 the White House and Navy
department by Senator Medill Me
Cormick of Illinois. Bristling with in
dignatiOn at the admlrars shocking
attack on Irish supporters in the
United States, Senator Mccormick
first called on Secretary DENLY and
/ later went 10 the White House.
The Illinois senator fatty demand
ed to know whether Secretary DENLY
intended 10 take cOgniZance Of Adj
miral Sims astounding criticisms Of
American citizens. Assured that the
Navy department would make imme-
date inquiries 10 ascertain whether
the officer was correctly quoted, and
If so, would order proper disciplinary
action Senator Mccormick then hur-
ried 10 the Executives offices and had
the speech and his protest la'd d.
rectly before President Harding him
self.
Has Presidents Approval.
Secretary Denby's cable TO Admiral
Sims was made public shortly after
ward. 1t was stated at the Navy de-
partment that II was sent on the sec
retary's own initiative and without
consultation with the President. The
President doubtless was fully advised.
Secretary DENLY took pNins in
making the announcement TO make II
plain that Admiral Sims is not rep
resentlng the American navy in any
official capacity during his stay
abroad nor is he even on duty. The
announcement says:
Secretary DENLY sent the follow
ing cablegram TO Rear Admiral Sims,
now on leave I'm London"
In his conference with newspaper
correspondents, Secretary DENLY in
dicated very plainly that Admiral
Sims will be disciplined In the event
that he fails to disavow the speech.
"The mere fact that l have cabled
him indicates that / have something
like that in mind" he said.
Il have read with amazement GER
tain extracts from a speech 1urpOrt-
ed to have been made by you in adj
dressing the English-speaking union
at a luncheon in London June z" Sec
rotary Denby's cable reads.
The secretary's message then quotes
that portion of the admirafs speech
I'm which he described Irish sympa-
thizers here as technical Americans"
charged them with placing Obstruc-
tions In the way of the allied naval
forces during the war and denounced
them as "asses."
The extract, as quoted by the sec
rotary, follows:
II do not want to touch on the Irish
question, for I know nothing about
II. But there are many in our coun-
try who technically are Americans,
some of them naturalized and some
born there. but none of these Amer
leans at all. They are Americans
when they want money. but Sim
Feiners when on the platform. They
are making war on America today.
The simple truth Of II Is that they
have the blood Of British and Amer
lean boys an their hands for the OBJ
structions they placed in the way of
the most effective operation of the
allied naval forces during the war.
They are like zebras. either black
horses with white stripes, or white
horses with black stripes. But we
know they are not hOrses-they are
asses. But each of these asses has
a vote, and there are lots of them"
Order Is Plain.
"You are quoted Secretary Den
by's message next points out, "as hav-
ing advised the British 10 ignore any
resolution forced by these jackass
votes"
The secretary's message concludes
with an order couched in the fewest
possible words that Admiral Sims
shall instantly admit the remarks at
tributed 10 him or make. adequate ex-
PLANTATION.
"You viii inform the department
Immediately by cable" the message
SAYS. whether or not you were cor
rectly- quoted and made such state
ments at the time and place In ques-