Imperial Valley press., 1925-10-14
Definite Policy
Is Lacking, Says
Veteran officer
Navy Department is Violating Every Principle Of
Command in Adn,inistr alton of Air Forces;
Says Chiefs Ignore Progress
BY WILLIAM j. McEVOY

: By WILLIAM j. McEVOY
United Press Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14.-Admir-
al william s.. Suas, retired, COM
nander of the U. $. Fleet in Euro
pear waters during the World War
anG a hero himself Of contest 20
| years ago between himself and the
navy department over gunnery, en-
tered the aircraft controversy be-
| fore the special air inquiry boardr
here today.
Aggressive as eve1, with the in
satiab,e thirst for perfection which
drove him as young Lieutenant at
! a station in China to challenge his
bearded superiors with charges of
efficiency. he belabored the pres
ent directive heads of the sea
forces for ignoring progress.
The navy today is without a def
mite air policy or Il real air organ
ization, he said, and without q pol
icy, no real use oI the airplane can
be made.
"'The navy department is violat-
ing every principle of command III
administering its air forces. he
Sc Id tersely. ct belittles as well
the power of the airplane while
airmen are <eINhuai;lstiel over its
development and purposes.
Tells Root Of Trouble
The navy for many years has been
controlled bv uneducated, mtrain
ed Officers Sims continued.
This is the root of our present
troubles and the present low morale
is due to lack of confidence in the
leaders, - he said. "This lack of
trained men explains why the de-
partment is administering the navy
in violation of military principles
particularly the solid principle of
command.
'sThe Shenandoah disaster can be
used as a ease in point, the adj
miral said. Management of this
ship - operation by Officers in
Westinghouse an example OF de-
strcying of the morale.
"'Th;s practice of running things
in Washington is unreasonable, UNI
necessary ana unscientific.
''Whv do these conditions pre-
vail? Because of the lack of public
interest.
Denounces Chiefs
Sims denounced the navy for be-
lieving battleships can successfully
defend themselves against armed
craft of the air and for harping on
"well balanced fleet.
"A well balanced fleet has no
meaning he said. Like all simi-
lar phrases. it is dangerous. =
Sims beIittled the navy depart
nent investigation into the relative
value of the airplane versus the
battleship.
"rhe secretary of the navy re-
turned from speaking tour and
ordered the investigation after de-
claring that the battleship was the
backbone of the navy.
',The board held its investigation
and reported that the battleship is
stNl the backbone of the fleet. This
is investigation in a circle.
Sims violently flayed the navy
for maintaining "dcfensive pol
icy.
"why does it oppose the intro
duqtion Of new weapons! Why
has the department failed to carry
out bombing tests against capital
shirSo' he .lsNed.
Sims answered his own questions
by stating that''' Il state of mind
in the navy was responsible and de-
clared it had profoundly influenced
- our present lack of definite mir
policy
1T should be fought he said,
= because so long as it exists no
adequate progress is possible,
Pays Mitchell Tribute
Sims expresses opposition to both
q unified air service and a separate
ait corps for the navy, but he paid
tsihute to Colonel "Bill' Mitchell,
agitating for showdown.
II don agree with Mitchell's
unified air service proposal but
he is bully good fellow who has
Gone mestimable service in bringing
the question before the public and
before an impartial air board Ike
this. -
Al this point Sims took a shot ~
congressional committees.
"The people are tired Of congress
siCual Investigations, he said
: The congressional committees nj
ways try to tie up or hang d wit