Admiral Sims, carrying out arrangements made some time ago, sailed
for America on the ` Olympic ' on Wednesday. His departure synchronized—whether designedly or accidentally, who can say 7—with a telegraphic order from the Secretary to the Navy at Washington to return to his post, as Head of the United States Naval College, and report in explanation of his outspoken speech in regard to Sinn Fein. As the matter is under official investigation, it would be bad manners for us to say whether an admiral in official employ should or should not have used the language which has so greatly per- turbed the hyphenated worlds of America. We shall confine ourselves, to a statement about which there can be no doubt. The vast majority of the American people, as indeed of the whole English-speaking world, are in complete agreement with the substance of the gallant sailor's speech. His words correspond exactly with the facts. Whether it was wise for him to use• them is another matter. We shall also note as a fact that the English-speaking race here and in America has always loved indiscreet naval officers. What endeared Nelson to his countrymen was his blind eye to the official telescope and his audacious dispatches.
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