Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-06-13
SIMS HASN'T GOT
RECALL ORDER YET
Admiral BIames Denby's Action
on Cables Delay OF
His Reply
SAYS HE WAS MISQU0TED


London. June 10. Rear Admiral
William s. Sims said this morning he
had not received the cable message from
Secretary Of the Navy DENLY canceling
the remainder Of his leave of absence
and ordering him to report as soon as
possible in Washington.
He left his hotel early In order TO
fulfill a day of crowded social engage
ments. He has no further public speak.
ing engagements before his departure
from England on Wednesday, and there
Is nothing to indicate that he intends
adding anything to his side of the do.
partmental incident until his return to
America.
The Admiral told an interviewer that
he believed Secretary Denby's second
message had been dispatched because of
Admiral Sims delayed response to the
first, one, asking If he had been cor.
rectly quoted in his address here last
week, in which he criticized Americans
IN sympathy with the Irish Republic.
Blames Cable for Delay
Admiral Sims insisted that the delay
in his reply was due only TO DELAY in
Transmission and declared that he made
his reply within an hour after recent
of the cablegram.
Admiral and Mrs. Sims have been in
yited to dine this evening with United
States Ambassador and Mrs. Harvey.
me Duke Of Connaught and other no.
table personages are among the invited
guests.
The editorial silence of the London
daily press on the Sims incident was
first broken today BY comments by two
papers. The Daily News declares it
takes no pleasure in any case in the
incident.
The admiral's speeches seem to us
mischievous and indefensible." saws the
News. Their effect in this country and
Ireland is deplorable, and the repercus-
sion in America is to the highest degree
undesirable. The American Navy
Office could do nothing else but what il
has done. though il might perhaps have
done it with a thought less truculcnt.
The only good feature of the whole
afair is the possibility that II may
serve as warning of extreme caution,
which it is imperatively necessary pub
Tic othclals, both British and American. !
should display in dealing with the Irish |
question.
THE Man Not Afraid"
The Daily Express, under the cap
ton The Man Who Is Not Afraid to
Speak ascribes the recall of Rear
Admiral Sims to the clamor of pro-
Sim Fein voters, and says:
Admiral Sims adds to his popularity
among the remaining so per cent OF
honest to God Americans. He has
been reprimanded before for attempting
to promote good feeling between the !
countries, and we hope he will be again. |
Knowing him as we do, and aware Of |
the fact that his views are those of the
majority, we believe he will do it again. |
And so we wish him God speed"
Washington, June 13.-Rear Admiral
Sims reply to Secretary Denby's de-
mand for an explanation of his Irish
American speech in London last week,
was received and issued at the Navy
Department yesterday. 1t says:
Statements attributed to me were
not correctly quoted. Context mis-
leading and garbled. Report of state
ments is incorrect and inferentially !
wrong Statement actually made was
the same as repeatedly |
made IN public in America and in my
book The Victory at Sea- and in
pubic address at meeting held for in
English speaking people"
Secretary DENLY withheld comment on |
Admiral Sims message. There is no
inclination at the Navy Department TO |
read incivility into the admiral's appar-
ent neglect to reply promptly to the !
Secretary's original cabegram, which !
was sent on June S. The message itself
was subjected to some delay in trans
mission, as it was eventually decided |.
to dispatch it in code and by cable
after the department learned there would
be incalculable delay in sending it by
wireless. No reply has been received
to Secretary Denby's message of yes-
terday revoking Admiral Sims leave,
ordering him to return to the United
States at once, and asking for ac-
acknowledgement of those instructions.
Admiral Sims defense-that he said
nothing in England he had not said pre-
viously in AmcriCa-will not clear him,
II is believed, If any charges are pre-
ferred against him. 1t is not the Secre-
tary of the Nays intention to engage
in any controversy with Admiral Sims
as to the truth or otherwise of his
statements. Mr.. DENLY will confne dis
clplinary procedure, If any, to the pro-
pricty of an officer of the navy, on
official leave abroad discussing purely
political questions.
There would De a disposition to dep
recate such discussion by a naval Of
tiCer in uniform even on American soil.
INDUCED in on foreign soil, such action
is deemed violation of an officers pre-
negatives. 1t is on that score Admiral
Sims will be put on the carpet. If he
seeks to establish justification" for his
references to Irish American politi-
clans. one forum will be a congressional
investigating committee.
The public speech in America Ad-
miral Sims mentions as having made is
the one he delivered last year in Bos-
ton under the auspi""a 0: the Loyal
Coalition, an organization formed in
1920 for the purpose of combating Sim
Fein agitation in the United States,
Admiral Sims remarks on that occa-
sion were protested by Irish organiza-
tiOns in rcmonstrances addressed to
Secretary Daniels. but the latter took
no action except to pass some charaC-
teristic structures on the subject Of
"garruous admirals."