Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-03-01
Admiral Sims
Talks on Alleged
Promotion Propaganda

Newport, X. L., Feb. 2S.-Rear
Admiral William s. Sims issued a
statement today regarding alleged
propaganda for his promotion to the
grade of Admiral. He said that he
had decided, upon his return from
Europe, not to permit an official re-
port on the inefficiency of the navy
department. there would probably
be no necessity for discussing the
question of my promotion at the
present time"
The statement. Admiral Sims as
serted, concerned letters written by
or to John L. Leighton. recently
published in the Hearst newspapers"
and characterized by those papers as
propaganda for the promotion.
II have been specifically asked
whether was informed Of the acti-
, v1ties of some of my friends, includ-
ing Mr.. Leighton. I was informed by
the latter that they proposed to as
certain the attitude of the people to-
| ward the treatment accorded the
navy since the war and was glad
to know this, because I considered
W hoL thCy PAOPcSCu " ttO WOulu Uc
d valuable service not only to the
| navy butte the people. and this be-
| cause there can be no doubt that the
| American people are sadly misin-
formed as to certain facts of i'm
| portance to the navy.
Though / do not for a moment
wish 20 convey the impression that
| am not human, and have no am
| tition for myself or for my children
iE this matter. still it is not ques-
ton of the personal interest of any
man; but it is very much a ques-
| ton of the influence upon moral of
| the failure of the navy to receive
adequate recognition for the services
| rendered by the navy in the war
zone. Such a failure officially and
historically discredits these forces
end those who were responsible for
their conduct in contact with the
| enemy"
I'm 1919" Admiral Sims contin-
ued, "the last administration re-
commended to the Congress that /
be promoted to the rank of Admiral
This was approved almost unani-
mOusly by the House of Representa-
tives but was hung up in the Senate
This approval by the House ap-
parently created the impression that
l had been promoted to Admiral, as
| recommended. - " Upon nv
return from Europe I was confront
! ed with the necessity of making a
decision as to whether l should sub
me- an official report of the ineffi-
cheney of the navy department that
| caused such serious losses in men
and shipping, with view to bring
| ing about a organization OF the
department. or whether l should re-
main silent and leave the American
people under the very dangerous i'm =
preston conveyed by the depart
ment's official reports that the navy
and the department were efficient
and prepared from stem to stern
! Had 1 chosen the latter alterna-
tive there would probably be no nee
cssity for discussing the question of
my promotion at the present time.
! But, considering the information l
| possessed, TO allow our people to
remain so dangerously rlisinformed
as to our first line Of national de-
Tense would manifestly have been
rank cowardicc. / therefore sub
mitted an official report. and the re-
suit was a Senate investigation
t which established the truth OF my
statements. Surely the navy
! deserves recognition, az well as the
! army" Admiral Sims concluded. "for
4 the success with which it carried out
its mission: and it appears TO me
! that anything that can properly be
done even now to bring this to the
! attention of the public is to be COM
! mcndcd rs a public service"