South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-04-29

upon such Information as we had
been able 10 obtain from our naval
at-lcho and from Ambassador Page.
chat the submarine menace was
more serious that the allies were
willing 90 admit. and that no ade-
luate means had set been found for
dealing with this peril. They we're
Z. That every effort should be
made 60 prevent the U-boats getting
into the Atlantic; that they should
be bottled up I'm their own ports.
and that some heroic method should
be devised 90 prevent their ingress
and CEress.
3. That All ships ought % be
conveyed / told him that the pres
ident had been Of this opinion for a
long time. but that there was a di-
vision OF opinion on the matter
among naval officers Of influence in
the department. most Of whom
seemed 20 agree with the British
admiralty. which was unfriendly 10
the idea But the president. I as
sured him. felt the British objec-
tions were unsound, and was firmly
convinced the only real protection
for shipping lay in concoying.
Sims Gets secret Orders.
So as tc preserve absolute secre-
cy about the mission and and de
parture OF Admiral Sims no written
order was made detaching him
from his duties at Newport. His
travel orders were made out.
think by the chief OF the bureau
himself 10 avoid any leakage. These
orders were.
Proceed 20 a port OF Great Brit
ain. leaving the United States on or
about March Il, 1917. and on arriv-
al carry out the confidential instruc-
tons which have been given you. "
Admiral Sims seemed pleased with
his mission. AS already intimated.
he reached London on April 10, re-
ported at once TO Ambassador Page
and was Immediately thereafter adj
mittcd 90 the confidence of the
British admiralty Thus began that
splendid cooperation which was car
ricd out with the utmost cordially
between the navies of the United
States and Great britain until the
day when the two navies. side by
side. received the surrender OF the
mighty German fleet.
About the British Chestnuts."
This story might end here were
it not that the reader is likely TO
ask What about the sensational
statement i'm the letter 10 Admiral
Sims. that before ne sailed he was
given the following explicit admoni-
ton: Don't let the British pull the
wool over your eyes. 1t is none Of
our business pulling their chestnuts
out of the fire. w" would as soon
fight the British as the Germans. "
I heard OF this first in January.
1920. when the letter of Admiral
Sims was written. He later said the
remark was made by Admiral Ben
son. who, he said. repeated it, or
words to like effect, in Paris.
I'm his testimony under oath, Ad-
miral Sims showed that he attached
little significance to it. He said: Il
Will admit that ] bad completely
forgotten the incident. 1t was re-
called To my mind by a member Of
my staff who was present and who
heard it. / think that the reason ]
did not remember that distinctly was
because regarded it as a personal
idiosyncracy of the admiral. I had
known the. general opinion that he
was intensely anti British. but it did
not affect me particularly"
Benson a Loyal Fighter.
OF Admiral Benson and his work,
Admiral Sims said. Il have always
had the best nossible personal ra-
Iadons with Admiral Benson. I re-
Gard him as n outstanding and hon
est man. who has exceedingly
strong convictions and who is very
firm i'm adhering TO those COnvic-
ton. I believe everything he has
done during the war has been done
couscientiously and TO get along with
the war"
I'm view Of this statement and
the fact that Admiral Benson and
everybody else in the navy earnestly
coopa with the British. and
that Admiral Benson played n large
part in perfecting this cooperation
before Admiral Sims reached Lon
don. L think there is no occasion
for any further allusion 70 this re-
mark. TIC went up like a rocket. 1t
came down like a stick.
From the standpoint of spectacu-
lar sensatona1ism Germany gave the
world the biggest surprise Of an
amazing war when. on March %,
shnIls hcran 20 fan in Paris