ADMIRAL SIMS’ TRIBUTE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1942, 20 February 1919, Page 1

ADMIRAL SIMS’ TRIBUTE.

TO BRITAIN’S WAR EFFORT

Admiral Sims, of (he United States Navy (says the British Weekly), made a singularly frank speceh at a luneheon given by the Englishspeaking Union. He declared explicitly that the number of submarines operating against merchant ships and transports coming in from Am , erica was only eight or nine on an average, sometimes running up to twelve or thirteen. The Americans sometimes thought that the American Navy had been doing the bulk of the business. That was not correct. There were about 5,000 anti-submarine craft, and of these the Americans numbered 100, or three per cent. Again, Americans seemed to regard it as a, miracle of their Navy that they had got a million and a-half troops here in a few months, and had protected them on (he way. ‘We didn’t do that,” said Admiral Sims. “Great Britain did. She brought over twothirds of them and escorted a half. AVe escort only one-third of the merchant vessels that come here.”

He mentioned that when in April, 1917, America came into the war the Centra] Powers were winning with great rapidity. He paid an eloquent tribute to the British Navy. “If a catastrophe should happen to (ho British Fleet, there is no power on, earth that can save us, for then the German High Seas licet can come out and sweep the seas. The British Grand Fleet is the foundation stone of the cause of the whole of the Allies. it is a pity that the (ruth a-« bout’ the astonishing efforts made by Great Britain in the war has not been published in America yet.”