The New York herald., 1921-06-25
Secretary Announces Ad-
miral's Letter Bears Out
Essentials of 'Jackass'
Speech in London.
OLD CENSURE Is CITED
Impropriety Of Remarks on
Foreign Soil Declared
in Disregard Of In
structiOns.
SIMS CALLS ON HARDING
Il Spilled Beans and Got What
Was Coming to Me- He
Asserts After the In
terview.
SIMS CALLS ON HARDING
Special Despatch to TIE New YORK TIEHALn

New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c., June "a.
Rear Admiral William S. Sims was
publicly reprimanded to-day by Sec.
retary DENLY for his Sim Fein
speech in London on June s.
After receiving the reprimand,
which was in the form of a written
official communication from Secre.
tary DENLY land is published in ad'
Joining columnsl Admiral Sims
called on President Harding at the
White House and then left for New
port to resume his duties as head OF
the Naval War College.
Upon leaving the President, Ad.
miral Sims said to the newspaper
correspondents:
Having spilled the beans, I got
what was coming to me. | am very
sorry to have caused the Admins
tration any inconvenience l did NOT
know my speech was loaded as much
as 1t was.
II am going back to Newport, and
I guess ] will stay there. Every
time I leave Newport l seem to get
into trouble"
Found President Pleasant.
He refused TO discuss what took
place during his conference with the
President except to say that he had
naIf /
President very pleasant"
Admiral Sims's hearty and good
natured acceptance OF the disciplinary
measures taken I'm his case disposed
of the rumors that no would resign
from the navy because Of indignation
over the public rebuke.
Secretary Denbys communication
containing the reprimand was de-
lfvered TO Admiral Sims at his hote.
by the Secretary's aide, and at the
same time was given to the public. II
will be included In the general naval
orders and be publicly read on al,
ships of the navy and at all shore sta
tions as soon as II can be printed and
got to them through the mails. Many
ships In distant waters and far away
shore stations may not hear the formal
reading of the reprimand for six weeks
or two months.
This Is not the first time that an Of
ficer of flag rank has been reprirnanded
for an alleged indiscretion in speech.
Rear Admiral Robley ID. Evans was
1
of Secretary OF the Navy Will
lam Z. Chandler. after Mr. Chandler
had ceased to hold office. Rear Admiral
Joseph r. Coghlan was reprimanded
for HIS famous poem about the Kaiser
entitled "Meinself und Gott." Admiral
Sims was reprimanded once before. In
1911. for his prediction that the United
States would come with every drop OF
blood" TO the aid OF Great Britain IL she
ever were menaced by an external
enemy.
! Impropricty In Question.
Secretary DENLY makes IL clear that
he is Furnishing Admiral Sims not for tho
substance OF his remarks. but because
Of the impropriety OF their delivery on
foreign soil. The Secretary's statement
says the department is not unmindfui
Of the Adrlirals brilliant record. but
adds that tie fact that he previously
offended in a similar manner. makes
his present offence the more grievous
because of his very prominence.
The statement shows that Admiral
Sims prepared a corrected copy OF his
speech while In London. with the assist
ance OF reports made in the London
newspapers and that OF Commander
Land Assistant Naval Attache OF the
American Embassy. who was present
when the speech was made.
Admiral Sins's only pertinent correo-
! tion Of the press reports Of his speech
referred 20 the paragraph which was
quoted In this country as having been
delivered as follows:
I'VE have a class Of people on the
other side who are technically Ameri-
cans, some OF them born there. some
naturalized. They are at war against
America to-day and at war against
you The simple truth Is they have the
blood OF American and English boys on
their hands
Correction by Admiral,
! Referring 20 this paragraph Admiral
Sims said
I'm no part Of my speech did | make
any such statement as that quoted
above My reference was 20 TIE Sim
Fein faction OF the Irish people who
I fought us during the war and TO Sim
I Feiners IN America who assisted them
10 fight us during the war. The above
will show the essential difference be-
tween the two statements.
Referring 20 the enclosed copy Of
my speech | quote as follows.
IL have never hesitated to say that
| the Sim Fein sympathizers in America.
who helped the Sim Feiners in Ireland
20 fight the Allies during the war. had