Speech #660075169

With rare judgment. he adopted a policy. which he steadfastly adhered to. of treating the United States forbes as reserves being brought to the front. With extraordinary tact he brought about a most cordial and wonderfully effective cooperation between the British and American forces. Last year members of the Naval Affairs Committee were told by people in Queenstown that as soon as the American destroyers got down to work with the British vessels at that base the number of refugees previously brought in every day from torpedoed ships showed a marked decrease. and our destroyer commanders operating with the British told us that sometimes when the wonderful little vessels went out. as they did every day. regardless of weather. they were under a British and sometimes under an American flotilla commander. whichever happened to be senior. The British and American fighting men were working as one. and that combination could not be "licked." Admiral Sims was put in command of our destroyer force April 28. 1917. On May 25 he was made vice admiral and ordered "commander United States naval forces operating in European waters." On November 20. 1917. he was given additional duty as naval attaclh6. and on November 27. 1918. he was given the temporary rank of admiral.