The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1943-09-05
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER

NEW YORK - This piece deals with an in
cident 26 years old and is written to correct
the record and for the comfort of any legiti-
mate news reporter who may find his word
outWeighed by the prestige of high-ranking
officer or official on a straight issue of truth
fulness. 1t is no part of the current dispute
between President Roosevelt and Mr.. Hull, the
secretary of state, hand, and the col
umnist Drew Pearson, on the other. Pearson
is one OF the originatorS of the backStars
school of political and diplomatic journalism
in Washington, an adaptation of the gents-room
school which began in the dives of New York
during prohibition and ethical newspaper re-
porters have no obligation to defend him. The
newspaper profession has sacrificed honor and
influence for cheap and temporary circula-
ton by publishing scandal and gossip for
their own sake in the last 20 years.
With this preamble let me get to my story.
On June 81, 1917, the United Press carried
and its clients in the United States publish
ed, story from the American base at Queens
town, Ireland, reporting that an American
destroyer had fought U-boat and that "ac-
cording to the belief expressed by the crew.
had rammed and sunk the enemy. 1t said
further that if the submarine was not ram
med it probably was finished off by another
antsubmarine device, namely, the ashcan or
depth-charge which then was a new and secret
weapon
The story was released without restriction
by lieutenant commander on the staff of
Vice Adm William S. Sims in the presence
of the post censor, a lieutenant commander
of the British Royal Navy. The censor in
turn, passed, stamped and initiated the story,
in duplicate and it cleared through the regu-
lar telegraph system in the local post office.
Two days later the Associated Press pub
Ished a dispatch from its own Queenstown
correspondent reporting that Admiral Sims,
on being questioned about the U. P.'s story
had denounced it as absolutely false
Admiral Sims then placed the young U. P
correspondent under open arrest in custody of
Consul Hathaway until transportation could be
arranged back to London and he was sent out,
accused of taking, and publicly Inundated.
The destroyer in question was the U. S. S.
O'Brien but for reasons of secrecy the name
was not mentioned.
There the case has stood ever since.
Recently, however, 1 got access to official
records of the Navy and obtained informa-
ton which I herewith present with some
personal satisfaction because I was the re-
porter.
On June 20, three days before Sims said
''the story is absolutely false,' he officially
reported to the Navy department.: 1T is rea-
sonably certain now that the O'Brien destroy
ed the submarine mentioned. He then gave
details of the encounter closing with the
| remark that unfortunately this a case
in which the exact result could not be de-
termined.
AS further evidence that Admiral Sims ut
tered a deliberate falsehood in his statement
to the A. P, I cite from a confidential re-
port of the commanding officer of the O'Brien.
c. B. Blakely, dated June 10 and addressed
| to the commander in chief, coast of Ireland
entitled, report of contact with enemy sub
| marine
cat 4:21 in the afternoon of June Is. 1917
in the approximate position u miles south
of Ballycotten light, conveying the S. S. Elv-
STA, periscope sighted broad on the
starboard bow, distant about 300 yards ), If
read. Speed was Immediately increased to
20 knots and the ship was headed toward
the periscope which about this time disan1
peared. After a very short period the ner;
scope was again sighted dead ahead. dst e,
about 100 yards. A few seconds later the 1ool'
out in the foretop called out that he CO. 80 ~
bulk OF the submarine in the water nassi,o
aft close to our starboard side. He stated
J later that he thought we were goina - s'a e
it. He could clearly see the snbro sr;u w ram ram