Salt Lake Telegram | 1920-01-21 | Page 11 | Sims Denies He Was Aggressor

I SIMS DENIES HE WAS AGGRESSOR Admiral Again Flays Chief in Address at at- N. N Y l B Banquet NEW YORK Jan 21 Rear Rear Admiral William S S. S Sims was given an ovation last night by several hundred of his brother officers officers' ot of the army and navY navy when It was announced at at a banquet I tendered to general g officers of ot the army and flag officers of the navy that Ad Admiral Admiral 4 I miral Sims one of ot the guests of ot honor would In view of ot recent happenings answer any questions questions' which were put putto putto putto to him at atthe the close of his address The admiral said there were two distinct rows on at present one over over medals and the other over his cism He declared d the impression was that he heis is the aggressor but having had some historical and practical knowledge of decorations he saw this trouble coming for for- some time and tried to avoid it His criticism he contended I was not an act of ot insubordination insubordination Let me me- mesay say it was nothing whatever whatever whatever what what- ever of the kind he continued The regulations of of- the navy provide that any officer who can consistently and efficiently criticise the actions of the department is to to-do to do do doso so But some ot of them dont It Is not proper to publish publish pub pub- lish these criticisms without the order of ot the department Admiral Sims declared that the s secretary sec secretary sec sec- c- c himself Issued orders inviting criticisms adding that anybody who did criticise probably interfered with his personal comfort The rhe trouble with the navy he said was In administration and not oper oper- If It w we we have a row on our hands it has been brought about by errors of ot administration Admiral Sims as a.- a. i sorted The mistakes of ot the administration administration admin admin- I have been a a. serious handi handi- cap In closing his address Admiral Sims I Imade i made an appeal for fair play for the navy declaring that the American spirit calls for a spirit of fair play which he said the navy officers have bave never never received Every man ought to have ha fair play to make his office efficient he added but he wont won't get it until you people ask for tor it Raise the ban It ought to tobe tobe tobe be raised Allow them to express their opinion I