The New York herald., 1921-06-13
'JACKASS' REMARKS
GARBLED in REPORTS,
Sims CABLES DENLY
Inferentially Wrong, Con-
text Misleading and In
correct, Admiral
Answers.
IMPROPERLY QUOTED
Explanation From Admiral
Doesn't Explain, Is Evil
dent View of Navy
Department.
NEW PROBLEM IS RAISED
Secretary May Find Difficulty
in Disciplining Officer Who
Claims Speech Helps to
Increase Good Relations.
NEW PROBLEM IS RAISED
Special Despatch TO THE NEW YORK IIEntrn
New York Herald Bureau.

SpcCtot Despdtcb 70 THE NEW noHh iiLftlh
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, d. C., June 12.
Rear Admiral William s. Sims cabled
to Secretary of the Navy DENLY to-day
for the first time since his "jackass"
speech in London raised such a storm.
He said:
Statements that were attributed
to me were not correctly quoted.
Context misleading and garbled.
Report of statements is incorrect
and inferentially wrong. State
ments actually made were subetan-
TALLY tho same as repeatedly made
In public in America and in my
book The Victory at Sea- and in
public address at meeting held for
increasing sood relations between
the English speaking peoples.
Secretary DENLY refused to COM
ment on Admiral Sims's reply, al
though it was plainly intimated that
the explanation is one that hardly ex-
plains and that 1t does not alter the
original complaint registered against
the Admiral. It Is recognized. how
ever, that the Admiral has injected a
new element into the situation which,
Will make the task OF disciplining him
more difficult.
In raising the question Of the cor
rectness OF the report OF his speech,
Admiral Sims is recognized as having
resorted 10 an excuse which is COM
IL - Q H.
rectness of the report places on the
department the burden of proving just
what was said, and this necessity will
require a full report OF the speech so
the Objectionable words may be meas
ured according to the context.
New Problem II Raised.
The other point raised by Admiral
Sims-that his statements were similar
to those repeatedly made In this country
places on the department another bur
den of responsibility II has been well
known here tha: Admiral Sims in his
book and public addresses. made state
ments which might have been subject TO
possible censorship. and that he has
discussed tho Irish question with IA
frankness which left little unsaid from
the viewpoint OF a sympathizer with the
British side of the dispute. No cosni-
zance ever was taken OF these utter
ances. Admiral Sims's book was hrst
published In magazine form during The
Wilson Administration. but published in
book form after the advent of the Har-
ding regime. So far as known, no on
cial question of the good taste or sd-
visibility OF the utterances was rared.
Admiral Sims Is regarded az having
scored another point by calling attention
10 similar utterances "in public address,
at meeting held for increasing good re-
lations between the English speaking
peoples"
The Administration is especially dis
turbed over the Sims uttersnces because
Of its effect on these very relations at n
time when public sympathy is divided.
Admiral Sims's address In England has
naturally been pleasing to the British.
while any effort TO discipline him for his
expressions abroad Is considered to have
the appearance of criticism OF the state
ments made rather than Of the unwis-
dom OF making them in uniform on for
eign soil.
While Admiral Sims has contributed
these embarrassments to the consid-
Grafton OF his case. Senators and Rep
resentatives profess 10 be amazed st
the public interest evidenced in the
controversy. They arc being flooded
with telegrams from nll over the coun.
try. and many % them approve %
the position taken by Admiral Sims
Many OF them insist that Admiral Sims
told tho truth and want to know what
harm there could be in truthful speak
ing.
Many Prnise sims's stand.
They also claim Admiral Sims has
done much to restore cordial relations
between British and American people
because Of his frank. even " not too
discreet speaking. by making Il plain
that American sentiment Is not all one
sided relative to the Irish agitation IN
this country.
Even Senator Borah who has taken
decided pro-Trish view. has expressed
surpr!se al the number OF telegrams
ne has received approving ~ Admiral
Sms's course. on the other hand. a
large number OF telegrams express dis
approval with special reference to the
III chosen time and place for Admiral
Sms's utterances.
The Navy Department takes the posi-
ton Il is not interested In this feature
OF the argument What IL II concerned
with Is the maintenance of discipline
in the navy and prevention OF indis-
Greet utterances generally by naval Of
ficers IN uniform.
Secretary DENLY Is expected to out
line what method will be adopted to
investigate the Sims episode within
short time.
The reference In the Admirars cabs
10 spe.ches made In America was taken
here 10 refer to an address In Boston
on January 25 last. In which he said II
was 20 him inconceivable that American
citisens Of irish nationality could sur
port Sim Fein '1enowing what they do
about them" ~
How any American OF Irish Y scent