The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-01-21

Medals Made Valueless By
 Action of Department,
 He Intimates.
 New York, Jan. 21.---In an out spoken speech delivered at the Army and Navy dinner in the WaIdorf-As- teria last night Rear Admiral William s. Sims declared that any officer who placed personal welfare before his duty of criticdsing errors of the Navy Departmen ent was mot worth the pow der to blow him to hell.''
 He declared the mistakes of the navy during the war never would have occurred had. the policy of gag for 12 years. He reviewed the circum- stances leading up to the 1.-two sepa- rate and distinct rows now on our hands, He said these were no Sam son-SchIey controversies.
 t"The trouble is one of adminiStra- ] ton, not of operation,'' he declared. Speaking of the controversy over the award of medals he said: The marked and acrimonous difference of opinion renders these medals value less. Officers do not want their grandL
 
 medals and then ask, 'Granddaddy, | what ship did you lose during the l great warp
 f. He emphasized that everything in l his letters to Secretary Daniels were | in strict accordance with the rules 1 and regulations of the Navy Depart ment, and added there was no possi- l bility of any disciplinary action being taken.
 The question of publication did not ! rest with him. he said, and so far as I he was concerned mo one saw the | letter except the recipient, those he showed it to and my personal staff. l which, of course, includes my wife. There was no pipe line from Newport, I as was alleged in the public press" Admiral Sims was introduced to the audience by Rear Admiral Bradley 1 A. F'iske, retired, as a. Header of men," As Sims rose every man in the 1 grand ballroom sprang to his feet and 1 indulged in an ovation that lasted 1 several minutes. The balconies were ! crowded with women. who also rose and cheered the man who command ed the American naval forces in l European waters during the war. For few moments a tense silence i followed the demonstration, then. in l clear tones Admiral Sims began his 1 speech. ''I thank you for this cor ! diality,'' he said, ''I hope it is intend ] ed only for me. I have been some> ! what embarrassed by being referred to as the most prominent British Ad- l rniral in the American navy
 l "Just before the dinner I was asked by a correspondent for a copy of my speech. I never wrote 8. speech in my ffo Fbeen more successful. When I start l usually know what want to say, and say it. That's not what the trouble is. I have acquired a reputation for discretion. If ! get away with this tonight without any discretion, shall be very much pleased.
 T think know what's in your mind. You would like me to tell you what's the matter with the Navy. For cer- tain reasons, intentional or otherwise. there are two separate and distinct rows on at the present time. One is caused by a difference of opinion about medals. The impression has been conveyed that I have been the faggressor, so perhaps it might be well for me to explain
 1 ''The fact is, I saw this trouble com ling a long way off, and did all could to avoid it. There is nothing in the letters you have seen in the public press that had not been presented pre- viously in official and unofficial corre- !spondence.
 ''I want to correct the impression
 that it was an act of insubord dina tior on my part. Even hints of disciplin ary action being taken against me 1T the premises have been made. Le
 me say there was nothing of tn. kind. The regulations of the United States navy. provide that any oficel
 who thinks he can present helpful
 criticisms of the department is il duty bound to do so.
 "It would not be proper for thos'
 criticisms to be punished by him. Tn,
 Secretary himself recently wrote a!
 order inviting criticisms on the less
 ons of the war.
 E'Sone officers, because of thei ] duties, had better information of CT l TOTS made. In some eases error
 were committed which, although no 1 followed by disastrous consequences
 might easily have been disastrous hal
 the conditions been cheryed. It i
 the duty of an officer to present thes
 circumstances as criticism. If tn | department chooses to publish then
 that is not his fault.
 | "Of course, it is much more com
 fortablo not to send the criticisms iu
 Officers have to consider what will b 1 the benefit of such criticism if h
 has future troubles, as contraste
 with the benefitsto the nation and tn
 nations first defense-the navy.
 If an officer revolves these tw l alternatives in his mind and then de
 cfdes for personal comfort, he is no
 worth the pay the government give 1 him, nor worth the powder to bIov l him to heII''