Arizona republican., 1921-07-05
SIMS DEFENDS RIGHT 0F PUBLIC OFFICERS
 TO DISCUSS ISSUES
 DE NATIONAL IMPORT
[RepubIIcan A. p. Leased wlrel

NEWPORT. R. l., July 4.-The att said had not only always neglected to provide for public criticism of off, eers of the armed forces but has actually forbidden it, was contrasted with that of some European powers by Rear Admiral William S. Sims. in an address today before the Rhode Island branch of the Society of Cin cinnati, in which he urged public discussion as a safeguard to public interests. In some continental coun- tries, he declared, criticism was rec ognized a so vital to efficiency that it rewarded when it proves benefit cial
 The American people. Admiral Sims said, know less about the elements of warefare and about the actual con dition of their military forces than the people of any other great power. adding that though this has militia ted against our preparedness for war in the past and although we have, nevertheless, always attained our object in war without very serious loss, still it must be evident that a similar attitude cannot be maintain ed in the future without very serious risk. In a country governed as ours is the efficiency of its various de- partments must necessarily depend verN largely upon the interest the 1 people take in this efficiency. "It behooves us, therefore. serious | ly to recall the admonitions of our great first president Tn regard to pre- l paration for war and adopt the nec- | { l,e public shall at all times be adequately informed of their progress through | public discussion carried out under | such regulations as to safeguard the public's interests"
 Washington's injunctions. Admira 1 Sims declared, embodied the immu-
 table fundamental principles of th'
 art of war and their application tt
 national security"
 They have been insisted upon b,
 our military and political historian'
 he said, but they have failed to talk,
 hold of the minds of the people.
 'I believe. he continued, that tn | reason for this dangerous lack in ou people of a proper solicitude for ou
 national security is due chiefly to ou
 belief that our geographic isolation
 renders us practically immune iron | SSFlOuS dildIh-
 America has never been defeate'
 in war and suffered humiliation o
 loss of territory Our independenc
 has never been in danger and we hay
 always heretofore had the feelin
 that it was never likely to be, thoug this feeling has been somewhat sha
 ken by recent events.
 In some countries of Europe, tn
 Admiral said, officers not actually O duty are at liberty to peblish an
 criticism they please of the actions c
 the government or of any of its de partments."
 s'In the United States he continu l ed. i've have not only always neglect [ ed to provide for public criticism C our officers. but we have actuall forbidden it.''
 "More than a year ago a senat
 committee completed an investigatio ? of a matter of vital importance to ou 2 first line of national defense. Prac tically all of the naval witnesses tes tified that the organization of ou
 navy department is such as to mali
 it impossible effectively to prepar } for war or conduct war. Notwith : standing the importance of this in l veStigation the report of the commi; Q tee las not yet been made Are ou | people losing any sleep over this | They are not
 ..T,hc missing element in American Q | ism is that it does not includs al' | quate solicitude for our safety. I'll f government. and to a certain exten f the people, resent criticism of any
 thing American.