New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-05
America Needs
Critics, Asserts
Admiral Sims
Policy of Repression Held
To Operate as Impedi-
ment to Development
of Military Efficiency
European Practice Cited
Officers Are Encouraged to
Point Out Blunders and
Best Hints Are Rewarded


t,de of the United States which, ne
said, not only had always neglected to
provide for public criticism by officers
of the armed forces. but had actually
forbidden it, was contrasted with that
of some European powers by Rear Ad-
miral William S. Sims, in an address
to-day before the Rhode Island branch
of the Society of the Cincinnati, in
which he urged public discussion as q
safeguard to public interests. In some
Continental countries, he declared,
criticism was recognized as SO vital to
efficiency that it was rewarded when
it proved beneficial.
The American people, Admiral Sims
said, know less about the element Of
warfare and less about the actual con-
dition Of their military forces than
the people of any other great power,
adding that though this has initiated
against our preparedness for war in
the past and, although we have, never
theless, always attained our object in
war without very serious loss, still it
must be evident that q similar attitude
cannot be maintained in the future
without very serious risk. In a coun-
try governed as ours is the efficiency
of its various departments must necess
sarily depend very largely upon the
interest the people take in this eff
cheney
Cites Washington's Advice
ut behooves us, therefore, seriously
to recall the admonitions of our great
first President in regard to preparation
for war and adopt the necessary meas
ures to insure that the public shall at all
times be adequately informed of their
progress through public discussion
carried out under such regulations as
Washington's injunctions, Admiral
Sims declared, embodied "the immuta-
BILE fundamental principles of the art
Of war and their application to ma
tlonal security" They had been in
sisted upon by our military and po-
lltical historians, he said, but they
mad failed to take hold of the minds
of the people.
reason for this dangerous lack in our
people of proper solicitude for our
national security is due chiefly to our
belief that our geographic isolation rer-
ders US practically immune from seri-
Gus attack.
America has never been defeated in
war or suffered humiliation or loss of
territory. Our independence has never
been in danger and we have ALWAYS
heretofore had the feeling that it is
never likely to, though this feeling has
been somewhat shaken by recent
events.
Contrast this condition of mind with
that OF some European countries. The
French know what it means to have a
victorious enemy march through their
capital, to lose territory and pay q
hoavy indemnity. Other Continental
powers have had similar experience
IN all these countries the national de-
Tense is live issue. The military forces
must not only be adequate in ma
terlal and personnel, but they must be
kept intellectually efficient through
constant training in readiness for war
Under these circumstances the truth
about the actual condition of THEN
armed forces is so vitality important
that any one who can point out a de-
feet or suggest an improvement will
earn the gratitude of lis government
Criticism is recognized as, SO vital te
the efficiency that it is not only wei
coined but is invited and is rewarded
when it proves beneficial.
"Officers not actually on duty are a.
liberty to publish any criticisms they
please of the actions of the govern
ment or of any of it's departments
For example, since the signing of thu
armisticc books have been published BY
Admirals Jellicoe, Fisher, Scott ant
Bacon and by Field Marshal French
These books contain criticisms of sucl
severity as to make any Of those which
have appeared in America seem very
mild in comparison.
American Policy Secretive
ain the United States we have no
only always neglected to provide TO,
public criticism of our officers, but VIZ
! have actually forbidden it.
"More than year ago Senate com
mittee completed an investigation of ,
matter of vital Importance to our frs
line of national defense Practical,
all of the naval witnesses testified tina
the organization of our. Navy Depart
ment was such as to make it impossible
effectively to prepare for war or tx
conduct war. Notwithstanding the i'm
portance of this investigation the re
port of the committee has not yet bee,
made. Are our people losing any slee]
over this? They are not
"The missing element in American
ism is that it does not include AIDE
quate solicitude for our safety. TIL,
| government, and to a certain exten
the people, resent criticism of anythin!
| American"
Admiral Sims expressed the hope
that his hearers would "be kind enough
to consider me an American, notwith
standing the title that has been giver
nle by certai IN unfriendly critics of 'th
| nct low Rrsf ycl Al