“AS SOON FIGHT THE BRITISH AS GERMANS.”

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3443, 24 March 1920, Page 5

“AS SOON FIGHT THE BRITISH AS GERMANS.”

‘ADMIRAL SIMS’ REVELATIONS. In our cables yesterday Admiral Sims, in giving evidence before the U.S. Naval Investigation Committee referred to a statement made during the war, in which a high American naval oflicial said: “Do not allow the British to pull wool over your eyes. We would as soon fight the British as the Germans.” Admiral Sims stated that the oflicer making this statement was Rear-Admiral Benson. The startling climax in the controversy between -Rear-Admiral Sims, who commanded the American naval forces in European waters during the war, and Mr Josephus Daniels (Secretary of the Navy), came while the admiral was testifying in January be‘fore a subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Naval Affairs, engaged in an investigation of the charge of favouritism in the distribution of medals for bravery and distinguished service by the Navy Department. ‘Admiral Sims read a memorandum, in which he stated that in the latter part. of March, 1917, he was —ordered abroad on 48 hours’ notice, in response to a request. from the American Ambassador in London expressing the desire of the British Government that a naval o-fficer of high rank be sent to secure the closer co-opera; tion which the American navy had suggested in combating the attacks by German lsu-bmarines on merchant shipping. “Brief orders were delivered to me verbally in Washington,” Admiral Sims declared: “No formal instructions or statement of the Navy Department’s plans or policylwere re.ceived at that time, though I received the following explicit admonition: “Don’t let the British pull the wool over“ your eyes. It is none of our business pulling their chestnuts out of the fire- -We would as soon fight the British as the Germansi’,” Utterly dumbfounded by this statem‘ent’; the members of the sub-committee’ paused to consider whether they should ask Admiral Sims the name of the man who":ga\'e"_h__irnt_llat” admonition. “This is a terrible’ thing” said. Senator McCormick, Republican, of Illinois. “I believe we will have to go to the Committee don‘ Naval Affairs or to the Senate for. further instructions and authority to investigate this entire matter of the atitude “of the Navy Department toward Admiral Sims’ mission)? The present investigation is the outcome of ‘Admiral Sims’ bombshell, which shocked the whole English-speaking world. I h

Slowly but assuredly a feeling of antagonism appears to be percolating America, owing to the villainous assertions frequently voiced upon the floor of the Washington Senate by unbridled legislators, whose sole aim in their career evidently is to abuse Great Britain and her Dominions. Scarcely a session of the Upper Chamber passes nowadays devoid of some unpardonable sneer at the expense of the~~Britis‘h Empire, directed at John Bull by opponents to the Wilson administration. ‘ Admiral Sims. of the U.S.A. Navy, has been roundly criticised for daring to defend himself against the insults of certain Senators who now are screaming that he is -too British to admire Anierican ideals. Before departing‘ for war service overseas he was emphatically told not to let the British pull the Wool over his eyes! Of course. New Zealanders are already aware that the gallant Adrniral was born in Canada, and that seernsx to be the only ground for American objection to his continuance in the navy of Uncle Sam!