Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-05-22
ADMIRAL WHO RAISED STORM
OVER CRITICISMS OF DAN
IELs MAKES ADDRESS.
TOO MUCH WRITING
OF LETTERS TO CRITICS
Sims Says He Was Handicapped by
Meddl ng of Government Officers,
Naval Officers and Citizens Telling
Him How to Conduct Campaign
Against Submarines.
BY Associated Press.

| BY Associated Press.
Newport, r. l.. May 22.-Rear Ad-
miral William s. Sims. president Of
the naval war college in his address
at the graduation of this years class
today. said that barring a very few
cases, cur navy personnel not only
responded to all requirements. but
exceeded our most sanguine expecta-
lions in the endurance, zeal and loyal
Initiative they displayed" in the
world war.
| This applies,- he added. mot only
to the forces In the war zone, but to
the navy in general, and particularly
to the very intelligent and skillful
handling of the transport services i'm
effective operation with the forces
abroad"
He urged the members of the class
to explain to the officers under their
command the great influence they
| might exert, ''for good or for evil"
| upon the civil population in war
time.
This IS a matter" he said, which
! concerns the peoples confidence or
lack of confidence In their military
leaders. Much of this influence is
| exerted thru the unofficial opinions
expressed to their civilian acquaint-
ances, and the reflection of these
opinions in the press.
THAT these opinions had marked
influence upon the conduct of the
| late war, there can be no doubt, nor
can there be any doubt that this in
fuence vas detrimental. 1t could
hardly have been otherwise, because
the great mass Of such opinions must
necessarily have been based upon in
complete information and much
even OF this information was neces-
sarily erroneous.
Public Opinion Erroneous.
HE said it was natural that some
officers should express opinions up
on the conduct of the war when
questioned by anxious relatives and
friends and that these opinions later
appeared 'in many grotesQuely mis-
taken editorials criticizing the STRAIT
egy and conduct" Of the army and
navy. usually based upon the ex-
pressed authority Of so-called 'ex-
perts'."
Il believe" he went on, that few
people know the extent to which
public opinion was formed in this
| manner, or the extent to which such
necessarily erroneous opinions, actu-
| ally Influenced even many of the
most important government officials,
both in our country and in allied
countries"
Admiral Sims said that during the
war he received many letters of crit
icism from leading members of the
governm emit" naval officers and civil
| ians.
without exception" he said. ''they
showed ignorance Of the conditions
governing the naval campaign"
He added that perhaps the most
| numerous and insistent Of the critics
pointed out the Grass stupidity Of
hunting and fighting enemy subma-
rinees in. the open sea, rather than
capturing and destroying their bases
or block g their egress therefrom."
He said such criticisms were easily
| refuted', but the most disquieting
feature vase the number of letters
from civilians Stating that such and
such a naval officer had told them of
the various fatal mistakes" being
made In the conduct of the war.
"One regrettable result of the
erroneous information circulated" he
said, was the paying Of many mil
lions OF Insurance against loss at sea,
commandments Of coast cities and
even bombing Of inland cities.
One poor mother of a boy serving
in the destroyer forces abroad wrote
fearful letter imploring me not to
let her beloved son starve to death.
she had been informed that the food
supply was failing"
Admiral Sims said that all OFFICERS
should be warned of the danger Of
such a condition and how it could
have been avoided or greatly mini
mixed If each officer had realized
that he did not have the necessary
Information to form just opinion
and had had the courage when asked
questions to say Z do not know"
Lost Or Found Number Plates.