Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-05
Sims Pleads for
Right to Oppose
Military Plans
Admiral Contrasts Conditions
In United States and
Europe in Speech
At Newport.

Newport, n. H. july 4.-11e at
titude of the United States, which
he said not only had always neglect.
ed to provide for public criticism oi
officers 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
l.land branch of the Society of the
Cincinnati, in which he urged public
discussion as safeguard to public
interests. In some continental coun-
tries, he declared, criticism was rec
ognized as so vital to efficiency that
it was rewarded when it proves bene-
ficial.
The American people, Admiral
Sims said, know less about the ele-
| ments of warfare and about the ac-
tual condition 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, nevertheless, always at
tanned our object in war without
very serious loss, still it must be evi-
dent that similar attitude cannot
be maintained in the future without
very serious risk In country gov
erned as ours is, the efficiency Of its
various departments must necessar-
lily depend very largely upon the in
terest the people take in this eff
cheney.
Recalls Wasf1ington's Army. :
1T behooves US, therefore, serious
ly to recall the admonitions of our
great first president in regard to
preparation for war and adopt the
necessary measures to insure that the
public shall at all times be adequate
ly informed OF their progress through
public discussion carried out under
such regulations as to safeguard the
public interests"
Washingtop's injunctions. Admiral
Sims. declared, modified "the i'm |
nutable fundamental principles of the |
art Of war and their application to
national security.'1' They have been |
insisted upon by military and political
historians, he said, but they have |
failed to take hold of the minds of the
people.
Il believe" he continued. that the
reason for the dangerous lack in our
people of proper solicitude for our
national security is due chiefly to
our belief that our geographic isola-
ton renders us practically immune
from serious attacw.
America has never been de-
Feater in war and suffered humiliation
Or loss of territory. Our indepen-
dence has never been in danger and
we have always heretofore had the
feeling that it is never likely to be,
:hough this feeling has been some
what shaken by recent events
Contract of Rules.
In some countries of Europe, the
admiral said, officers not tctually on
iuty "are at liberty to publish any
criticism they please of the actions Of
he government or of any of its de-
/,
'In the United States he con-
inued, we have not only always
Neglected to provide for public crit
cism of our officers, but we have
ctually forbidden it.
More than a year afo senate
ommittee completed an investiga-
ion of matter of vital Importance !
o Our first line of national defense. ,
Practically all of the naval witnesses
estihed that the organization of our
'avy department is such as to make :,
impossible effectively to prepare !;
Or war or to conduct war. Not !
outstanding the importance of this |
lvestigation, the report of the COM :
,ittee has not yet been made. Are
ur people losing any sleep over this? !
hey are not. :
The missing element in American
IN is that it does not include ade- r
uate solicitude for our safety. The =
overnment, and to a certain extent,
lie people, resent criticism of any 7
ling American" :
Admiral Sims expressed the hope
lat his hearers would ''be kind
lough to consider me an American p
Notwithstanding the title has been b
wen me by certain unfriendly critics o
the most popular British admiral E
the American navy" L