Sims, William Sowden, 1858-1936

In his review of Henry J. Hendrix’s Theodore Roosevelt’s Naval Diplomacy, William N. Tilchin examines each of the seven chapters of the book, highlighting both the issues where he disagrees with Hendrix and praising him for “a well-crafted narrative account” of diplomatic milestones in Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency. Tilchin challenges Hendrix on the latter’s account of the Venezuelan crisis of 1902 – 1903, and he takes exception with one of the conclusion’s assertions, but he finds great value in Hendrix’s chapters on the Panama Canal, the Ion Perdicaris affair, the Treaty of Portsmouth, and Roosevelt’s transformation of the United States Navy. Tilchin’s review includes a number of references to prior works on Roosevelt’s diplomacy, highlighting the historiographical debates which have marked issues addressed by Hendrix. 

Three photographs of naval commanders under Roosevelt and two illustrations, including the book’s cover, supplement the text. An advertisement for chocolate bars from The Chocolate Lady of Oyster Bay, New York, appears at the end of the review.

Carl Cavanagh Hodge examines Theodore Roosevelt’s ideas and policies regarding naval policy in the context of international relations and a naval arms race in the first decade of the twentieth century. Hodge emphasizes Roosevelt’s reading and use of the ideas of naval strategist Alfred Thayer Mahan, and he compares American naval plans with those of Great Britain and Germany. Hodge frames Roosevelt’s policies within the context of friendly relations with Great Britain, an increasingly assertive Germany, and the rising power of Japan, especially in the wake of the Russo-Japanese War. Hodge highlights the acquisition and construction of the Panama Canal and the voyage of the Great White Fleet as key parts of Roosevelt’s overall naval strategy. He notes Roosevelt’s embrace of the battleship as a means of engaging other nations’ fleets abroad, and he asserts that Roosevelt saw the fleet as an important symbol of American power. 

Eight photographs, including those of Roosevelt and Mahan, and one illustration supplement the article. A text with the mission statement of the Theodore Roosevelt Association appears in the endnotes. 

Henry J. Hendrix reviews Kenneth Wimmel’s Theodore Roosevelt and the Great White Fleet: American Sea Power Comes of Age and finds it disappointing because it is “somewhat shallow” in its treatment of the times and figures that marked the rise of American naval power at the turn of the twentieth century. Hendrix notes the importance of Alfred Thayer Mahan, Theodore Roosevelt, and others to the creation of a modern American fleet. 

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2000

The Senate Committee on Naval Affairs interviews a number of naval officers on some alleged defects in the construction of several battleships now being built. Chief among these concerns are the questions of the placement of the armor belt, the positions of the guns, and the design of the hoists to provide the turrets with ammunition.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-21

Theodore Roosevelt sends New Year’s greetings to Secretary of the Navy Meyer and his wife Marian Alice Appleton Meyer. Roosevelt recently discussed Meyer’s physical test work with Cameron McRae Winslow. Roosevelt believes William Sowden Sims has done more for the marksmanship of the Navy than anyone else, regardless of his indiscretions.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1910-12-30

President Roosevelt encloses a letter and memorandum from William Sowden Sims and requests Commander Cowles’s opinion of them. Roosevelt believes that Sims is an alarmist but agrees that naval target practice might be deficient.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1901-12-12

Captain Percy Scott introduces a paper about training ranges and long-range firing by Lieutenant Commander William Sowden Sims. Scott believes the paper should be studied by officers interested in gunnery training and in towing targets. In the extracts from Sims’s paper, he addresses current misconceptions in teaching men to aim, as well as examining the proper methods of training. Sims believes it is important to train with firearms that are accurate, as well as to train men under circumstances that will test their skills and nerve. Sims concludes his paper with a summary of his points. He says, “You must first train your pointers always to aim accurately, then train your ‘ship’ to get the maximum results from their skill.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-21

President Roosevelt writes to recognize the work of Commander William Sowden Sims, who has improved naval gunnery and military training in the course of his work as Inspector of Target Practice. Roosevelt makes clear that he will not seek to promote Sims against Navy regulation, however.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-27

President Roosevelt is glad that Captain Winslow approves of him putting Admiral William Sowden Sims in command of a battleship, as Roosevelt feels that Sims has earned it. Roosevelt is interested in what Winslow says about the way he got his ammunition hoist in good shape.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-16

President Roosevelt directs Secretary of the Navy Newberry to attach to Admiral William Sowden Sims’s officer record a statement of all “the essential facts concerning the value of his services.” Roosevelt believes that Sims has done more than any other man for the improvements of the Navy’s efficiency in target practice, and wishes that his contributions to gunnery, ordnance, and construction be recorded.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-16

President Roosevelt thought over what Secretary of the Navy Newberry said about Admiral William Sowden Sims, and is obliged for the suggestion. When the captain of the Minnesota comes, Roosevelt will speak on the lines that Newberry suggests. Roosevelt encloses a letter that he thinks should be put in Sims’s record.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-16

President Roosevelt sends Secretary of the Navy Newberry an enclosed letter from Commander William Sowden Sims that commends Arthur Wallace Dunn’s account of the Navy’s target practice. Roosevelt would like this letter kept for reference in case Dunn wishes to observe the target practice again, as he was particularly good at giving an accurate description of it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-11

President Roosevelt instructs Secretary of the Navy Newberry to assign Commander William Sowden Sims to the USS Minnesota.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-18

President Roosevelt is confused and angered by the message Commander Key is trying to send about his opinion on the administration of the Navy, and cautions Key against disobeying his order. He takes exception with Key’s previous claim that Roosevelt has been misinformed regarding the Newport conference, and points out that the opinions of those Key identifies with are often proven to be wrong. Roosevelt is not yet certain whether there should be a court-martial placed on Key, but he claims it may be necessary to reduce any harm he may cause the Navy. Roosevelt also discusses the construction of a new type of naval ship he has been overseeing.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-08

President Roosevelt asks Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry to send him reports from seagoing officers in addition to reports from W. L. Capps and the Bureau of Construction. While Roosevelt was convinced that William Sowden Sims, Albert L. Key, and Cameron McRae Winslow exaggerated the defects of battleships, Roosevelt is worried that there may still be some merit to their complaints.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-01

President Roosevelt has read Lieutenant Commander Key’s reports with interest and thinks that Key, Cameron McRae Winslow, and William Sowden Sims have served well by calling attention to defects in the naval administration of the United States. In spite of this, however, Roosevelt thinks that some of the criticisms have been exaggerated and that the solutions Key has proposed may not work as well as he thinks. Roosevelt discusses the placement of armor belts on ships as one example of this. He also speaks about a proposed shift within the Navy that will give line officers more authority than they currently have and says that the suggested balance will actually accomplish very little and that what is required is more along the lines of a change in staff.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-26

Following Secretary of the Navy Metcalf’s advice that he sent via William S. Cowles, President Roosevelt met with William Sowden Sims, and thinks it will be all right now. Roosevelt asks if Metcalf would keep Albert L. Key in town for several days, as there are some things Roosevelt would like to discuss with him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-09

President Roosevelt asks Secretary of State Root to review an enclosed memorandum from William Sowden Sims on the topic of Brazilian battleships. It looks as though the battleships may not go to Brazil, and Roosevelt wants to make sure that if that is the case they do not go to Japan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-15

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Frederick Dent Grant for his records, which he has forwarded on to William Sowden Sims. Roosevelt thanks Grant for sending him a demonstration of his troops ability.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-13

President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War Taft of a recent report comparing army and navy fire control. He is concerned by the army’s “backwardness,” as evidenced by the report. Until recently, the navy showed a similar deficiency but has since improved, as can the army. Roosevelt requests Taft take up the issue.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-21