, 1921-06-16
SIMS ORDERED
TO RETURN HOME
ACTION is POINTED REBUkE ON
REAR ADMIRAL's LONDON
SPEECH.
DELAY Anglers DENLY
SIMS LEAVE REVOKED BECAUSE
OF FAILURE TO REPLY TO
SECRETARY DENNY.

Washington, June 13.-Manifestly
nettled at the slowness of Rea Ad-
miral William Snowden Sims in max
Ing the explanation of his now famous
"jackass'' speech in London which was
demanded of him without delay, Secre-
tary of the Navy DENLY promptly can
celled the remainder of the admiralS
leave and summarily ordered him to
return to the United States forthwith.
The admiral will now have to supple
ment his written explanation on the
speech with an oral one on his tardi-
ness in obeying orders, 1t was said
here.
The message ordering he head of
the naval war college home was short
and terse. 1t said:
Remainder your cave revoked. You
will return to the United States imme-
diately and report at once in person
to the secretary of the navy. Acknowl-
edge"
The drastic step of the secretary
was taken after he had waited vainly
for the explanation from Admiral
Sims.
JIM hldhC LIE liouDltoOllC
speech Wednesday before the English
Speaking Union. Early Thursday
morning Secretary DENLY cabled him
asking him IL he had beer correctly
reported as saying that Britons should
Ignore resolutions passed in this coun
try IN the Irish question which were
forced by jackass votes"
Denby's message requested a reply
without delay.
Secretary DENLY said he took full
responsibility for ordering Admiral
| Sims home so suddenly. He said he
had not consulted with President Har-
ding nor with anyone else before send
ing his curt message.
II did what / conceived to be my
duty as secretary of the navy" he
said. Il questioned Admiral Sims as
to the accuracy of his reported speech.
l received no reply. so it seemed there
was nothing else to do except TO order
him home
The perturbation of the secretary
was apparent.
The least hat can happen to Adj
miral Sims unless he completely dis
avows the utterances he is reported to
nave made in London, is n very severe
reprimand. according to the opinion of
naval officials here. The worst that
can happen to him is dismissal from
h service. but 1t is not believed that
such a drastic step will be taken by
the administration.
Admiral Sims lacks only fifteen
months of reaching the retirement age
of "a. when he automatically is taken
off the active list. In view of this and
in view Of his distinguished record in
the service, 1t is not believed that he
will draw more than a severe repri-
mand.
Secretary Denby's original cable ex-
pressing official 'amazement'' at the
admiral's utterances followed by the
peremptory summons to come home
Immediately constitute in themselves a
rebuke more pointed thar has been ac-
corded any naval officer Of high rank
within h memory Of the present gen
Grafton of naval officers in Washing
ton
observation-disclosures attributed to
him in press reports Of his address be-
fore the English Speaking Union in
London in which he criticized activi-
ties Of Sim Fein sympnthizers were
not correctly quoted and were mislead-
ing, Admiral Sims declared in n cable
gram received by Secretary DENLY.
Statements attributed to me-" said
the message. were not correctly quot
ed. Context misleading and garbled.
Report Of statements Is Incorrect.
Statement made was substantially the
same as made in public in America
n In my book. The Victory at Sea-
and in public address Mt meeting held
for increasing good relations between