Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-01-21
SINS GETS OVATION
AT FIGHTERS TABLE
Admiral Is Dinner Guest of
Brother Army and Navy
Officers.

NEW YORK, January 81 (by the
Associated Press) Rear Admiral
William S. Sims was given an ova-
ton last night by several hundred of
his brother officers of the Army and
Navy when it was announced at a
, banquet rendered to general officers
of the Army and flag officers of the
Navy that Admiral Sims, one of the
guests of honor. would. lin view of
recent happenings" answer any
the close of his address. Rear Ad
miral Bradley Fiske, who presided at
the dinner, announced that in view
of Admiral Sims desire to submit to
a QUESTIONABLE he would be the last
speaker called upon, so that the
guests could prepare their questions
in writing.
The keen interest aroused among
the diners by these announcements
was not. however. rewarded with any
sensational statements when the ad-
miral finally arose to speak. He re-
Trained from all personalities, and
the only direct reference he made to
his recent testimony before a Senate
committee in Washington was the
statement that he was embarrassed
to find myself referred to by clever
correspondent is the best British ad-
miral in the American Navy.
Two Distinct Rows.
The admiral said there were two dis
tinct rows on at present, one over med
ais and the other his criticism. He de-
clared the impression was that he is
the aggressor. but having had some his
torical and practical knowledge of dec
ora tons he saw this trouble coming
for some time and tried to avoid it. His
criticism he commended, was not an act
of characterization.
Admiral Sims declared that the Sec
rotary himself issued orders inviting
criticisms. adding that anybody who did
criticise probably interfered with his
personal comfort.
But an officer must consider the eff
cheney of the Navy he said. IF he
doesn't make criticisms where he thinks
they would do good, he is not worth the
pay the government gives him and not
worth the powder to blow him to hell"
Arouxes disabilities.
Admiral Sims asserted that medals
are of no value unless discretion is
used in distribution. He caused much
laughter when he remarked men in the
Navy didn't want their grandchildren
to say to them in later years:
'Granddaddy, what ship did you lose
during the great war;
In answer to a question as to what
effect present conditions in the de-
partment had on the morale of the
Navy, the admiral said:
Public pride in the Navy is justi-
fed. The Navy. you may take it
from me. is solid to the core. The of
ficers are supporting each other, and
during the war were loyal to the
common cause of the allies. There
is no possible complaint at all about
the Navy itself"
1.-The Navy knows all about this
trouble" added Admiral Sims. People
think everything the Navy did was
all right, but the Navy knows it was
Turning to Rear Admiral F'iske,
whom he characterized as one of
greatest authorities on
warfare on the sea, he said: IF the
Navy Department had allowed Ad-
miral Fiske to tell the people long
ago what he knew, there would have
been no trouble now. Admiral Fiske
cannot tell you what he knows
THE trouble in this country is that
official criticism by officers of the
Navy is passed upon by the persons
or it may not be considered
at ALL"
administration" Blamed.
The trouble with the Navy. he add
ed, was in administration and not
operation"
IF we have a row on our hands
it has been brought about by errors
of administration" Admiral Sims as
serted THE mistakes of the admin
istration have been a serious handi-
cap"
In closing his address Admiral Sims
made an appeal for fair play for the
Navy" declaring that the American
spirit calls for "a spirit of fair play"
which he said the Navy officers have
never received.
Every man ought to have fair play
to make his Office efficient" he added,
but he won't get it until you people
ask for it. Raise the ban. 1t ought
to be raised. Allow them to express
their opinion"