SIMS DISCOUNTS U.S.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 75, 28 March 1923, Page 8

SIMS DISCOUNTS U.S.

NAVY WKNT SLOW. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SAN FRANCISCO. February 1. Real-Admiral William S. Sims, one of I the foremost in the American Navy's operations in the world war, has once more aroused a public discussion owing to another sensational speech which he has just delivered, when, publicly fori the first time since the war he discussed his intimate experiences in command of American naval forces in European j waters. In the course of his remarks. Admiral I Sims said: "History will some day! prove that the United States gave a- < blanket order at the very start of the war to go slow with the navy and "don't ! do a thing with the army.'" ) Referring to his famous speech at the| Hyde Park Hotel. London, before the ! Fnglish-speaking Union, which caused, many critics in America to dub him "a j pro-Britisher." he said: "That speech might have caused mc serious trouble, I because a court-martial loomed ahead, hut for the splendid support 1 received from the American people. In fact. 1 "us spilling the beans, hut 1 meant what 1 said, and my countrymen over here did j not disapprove." [ Another significant remark was: "111 it had mil been for the work of the British Orand Fleet in keeping the Oornian Ib-et off the high seas, you Anier.'cans would be learning to speak the Herman language in this country to-, day." ' j Taking a fling n( the Washington, Conference for Limitations of Anna- , ment, he said the public bad been mis- j led as to its value as a lasting factor; for peace. The reason, he explained, was that the plan as adopted dealt only) with capital ships, and the next war , "will be won by the nation possessing the largest number of submarines and airplanes." j While America's tonnage basis is equal to that of Great Britain. Uncle Sam's guns are of smaller calibre, be pointed out. than those of either Oreat Britain or Japan. This, be said, nullified the actual value of the s—s— 3 ratio. He added: "Congress, in manning our naval fieet to only 70 per ' cent of the necessary personnel, entirely upset the object of the ratio and , theoretically left us at the mercy oi the other two nations in any conflict." The Admiral paid his respects to America's Pacific possessions as follows: "Any nation can spit on the Philippines and we can't stop them." Although this gathering was in the Orace Episcopal Church in New York on a Sunday night, and was designated a "Roosevelt patriotic service." the congregation became so enthusiastic that they very frequently applauded the outspoken American Rear-Admiral for his . blunt remarks. 1