New-York tribune., 1920-01-21
Man Who Evades Duty TO
Criticize Not E'Worth
Powder to Blow Him
to He]l,'' He Declares
Admiral Is Given
Ovation at Dinner
Medals Made Valueless
by Action of Depart
ment, He Intimates

In an outspoken speech delivered at
the Army and Navy dinner in the Wal
dorf-Astoria last night Rear admiral
William S. Sims declared that any off
Ger who placed personal welfare before
his duty of criticizing errors Of the
Navy Department was mot worth the
powder TO blow him to hell"
He declared the mistakes OF the navy
during the war never would have oc-
Cured had the policy Of "gagging'
naval officers not been in force for
twelve years. He reviewed the circum-
stances leading up to the "two sepa-
rate and distinct rows now on our
hands" He said these we're no "Samp-
son-Schley controversies"
The trouble is one of administra-
ton, not Of operation" he declared.
Medals Made Valueless
Speaking of the controversy over the
award of medals he said: "The marked
and acrimonious difference of opinion
renders these medals valuelcss. Off
GERS do not want their grandsons in
the future to look at their medals and
then ask 'Granddaddy, what ship did
you lose during the great warp"
He emphasized that everything in
in strict accordance with the rules and
regulations Of the Navy Department,
and added there was no possibility OF
any disciplinary action being taken.
The question of publication did not
rest with him, he said, and SO far as
he was concerned mo one saw the let
ter except the recipient, those he
showed it to and my personal staff,
which, of course, includes my wife.
There was no pipe line from Newport,
as was alleged in the public press"
audience by Rear Admiral Bradley A.
Fiske, retired, as "leader Of men,
AS Sims rose every man in the grand
ballroom sprang to his feet and in
dulged in an ovation that lasted several
minutes. The balconies were crowded
with women, who also rose and cheered
the man who commanded the American
naval forces in European waters during
the war.
Recalls British Admiral Joke
For a few moments a tense silence
followed the demonstration, then in
clear tones Admiral Sims began his
speech. IL thank you for this cordial
ity," he said, II hope it is intended only
for me. | have been somewhat en-
barrassed by being referred to as the
most prominent British Admiral in
the American navy.
Just before the dinner / was asked
by correspondent for a copy Of my
speech. | never wrote speech in my
life, if | had ! would probably have
been more successful When start |
usually know what l want to say, and
say it. That's not what the trouble is.
have acquired reputation for indis
cretion. If | get away with this to-
night without any indiscretion / shall
be very much pleased.
81 think / know what's in your mind
You would like me to tell you what's
the matter with the navy. For certain
reasons, intentional or otherwise, there
are two separate and distinct rows on
at the present time. One is caused by
difference Of opinion about medals
The impression has been conveyed that
have been the aggrcssor, 80 perhaps it
might be we'll for me to explain:
"The fact is, I saw this trouble COM
ing long way off, and did all l 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 CORES
pOndcnce.
characterization Denied
81 want to correct the impression
that it was an act of INSTRUMENTATION
on my part. Even hints Of disciplinary
action being taken against me in the
premises have been made. Let me say
there was nothing Of the kind. The
regulations Of the United States Navy
provide that any officer when he thinks
he can present helpful criticisms of the
department is in duty bound to do so.
ut would not be proper for those
criticisms to be published by him. The
Secretary himself recently wrote an
order inviting criticisms on the lessons
of the war.
Some officers because of their
duties had better information of errors
made. In some case errors were com
mittcd which, although not followed
| by disastrous consequences, might
easily have been disastrous had the
conditions been changed. 1t is the
duty of an officer to present these cir
cumstances us criticism. If the de-
purtment chooses to publish them that
is not his fault
"Of course, it is much more comfort
able not to send the criticisms in.
An officer has to consider what will be
the benefit of such criticism if he has
future troubles, AZ contrastcd with
the benefit to the nation and the ma
tion's fret dcfcnsc-thc navy.
III an officer revolvcs these two al
ternativcs in his mind and then de-
cidcs for personal comfort he is not
worth the pay the government gives
him nor worth the powder to blow him
to hell"
Coming back to tho more recent criti-
cism Of the Navy Department contained