Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 300, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1910 — American Fleet Commander Charged With Rank Indiscretion. [ARTICLE]

American Fleet Commander Charged With Rank Indiscretion.

W. W. Sims, commanding the Atlantic fleet now on a cruise in foreign waters, is charged with language at a banquet given in London on Dec. 3d, in honor of the fleet, that would have been a grave violation of diplomacy if nothing worse. Possibly Sims did not employ the language attributed to him. It seems incredible that he would have done so, but if he did, he should be relieved of command without delay. Commander Sims wished to impress England with the friendliness of America and is accused of having exceeded the bounds of diplomacy. He spoke wlth enthusiasm of the friendly manner in which the men qf the fleet had been received in London. —This, he said, could not happen in any other country, but was made possible by the strong ties of blood between the two countries. Speaking for himself, he believed that if the time ever came when the British empire was menaced by an external enemy, they might count upon every man, every drop of blood, every ship and every dollar of their kindred across the gea. This language would not only be an insult to Irish, German, French, Russian and other foreign residents of the United States, but likewise to all foreign countries, where the effect would be to cause distrust of America and sl keen disappointment that an American naval, officer should so express himself. Representative Korbley is demanding an investigation by Congress, and Secretary Meyer, of the Navy, should cut Sims off in a jiffy if it is proven that he used the language attributed to him.