Evening star., 1941-12-19

the p atriotic -
urge to fight. @~Ae&
The other is David Lawrence.
the shake-up in the high command
at Hawaii. There is no concealing
the fact that throughout the Navy
1t has been a matter of common
gossip for months that President
Roosevelt has picked high Naval
officers on the basis of his own per-
sonal appraisal of their worth rather
than on what others in the service
considered we're the proper bases
for promotion.
This, of course, is something that
always is heard about service pro-
motions, but, because of Mr.. Roose-
velt's own familiarity with the
Navy. 1t has been talked about
much more under his Administra-
ton. AL sorts of stories are told
to the effect that officers who are
yes men" and will not stand up to
the Administration have been
rewarded while fortnight and out
spoken officers have been side
tracked.
Confidence in Nimitz.
Some of these differences of opin-
Ion, to be sure, are said to have been
fundamental. Thus, it is related
that Rear Admiral James o. Rich
ardson was withdrawn from the
feet and Rear Admiral Husband E.
Kimmel placed in charge in the
Pacific because the former insisted
that the fleet should not be divided
in two oceans until it was ready
for such a step. The theory of the
late Admiral Mahan, U. S. NJ, fore
most naval strategist of modern
times and so acknowledged through
out the world, was that a fleet
should always be kept intact as
unit.
Whatever were the circumstances
that caused the President to select
Admiral Kimmel over and above
other officers who were in line for
promotion. the fact remains that in
selecting Rear Admiral Chester w.
Nimitz to take charge in the Pa
cifc, Mr.. Roosevelt has put the
uuietus on the talk of favoritism and
uRs picked On officer in whom the
Navy has unbounded confidence.
Certainly the President has given
proof that now that war is on he Is
not allowing any factor to influence
him on naval and military opera
tions except merit and efficiency.
The appointment Of the board Of
inquiry on the Hawaiian debacle IS
by no means going to lead to a
whitewash, for the personnel is high
grade in every respect. Not only is
Associate Justice Owen J. Roberts as
fine a character as Washington has
seen in public life in many years
but the Army and Navy officers Sc
lected for the board are able and
political in every sense. They
will bring in report on the facts
no matter who is hurt or helped by
the findings.
The Navy's own morale has been
improved by the quick changes
made in the set-up at Hawaii. AS
for the Air Corps, it feels that at
last recognition is given In the new
lineup to the major Importance OF
air warfare.
May Settle Controversy.
The controversy over whether the
United States should have a sepa-
rate air force coordinate in rank
with the Army and Navy may be
settled in quite different way than
has been generally expected. The
placing of high air corps officers to
command the Army in its overseas
operations is beginning to be dis
cussed as the probable solution. In
asmuch as the air services must CO.
operate with both Army and Navy,
the presence of high air corps OFF,
GERS in strategic points, as in Hawaii
may tend more and more toward
the German system where the air
corps takes charge when air opera
tions are vital and the military
comes into command where opera
tions are primarily those OF mech
anized land armies.
The first panicky feeling that fol-
lowed the news of the assault on
Hawaii is disappearing. The War
and Navy Departments are settling
down to the grim business of long
war. The discouraging of voluntary
enlistments is essential to the order
" selection of soldiers and sailors
It is more important just now to
keep civilian production going than
to allow skilled mechanics and other
essential workers to enlist. But until
Secretary Stimson announced the
proposed suspension Of voluntary