Evening star., 1942-06-08
King
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have withdrawn"
Admiral King discussed the Pa
cific situation with reporters in
his Office at the Navy DEPARTMENT.
1t was his first full-fledged press
conference since he took over the
fleet command and became also
chief of naval operations.
Land-Based Planes Effective.
In talking Of the effect of the
repulse Of the Japanese force at
Midway the admiral said that while
the enemy's sea forces had received
some hard knocks they still have
great deal of shore-based air
craft"
American shore based aircraft. he
added, played a big part on Mid
way" referring to the effective
aerial defense put up by the garri-
son at that outpost.
That means that for us to rush
in now (where the enemy has shore
based aircrafD would not be we'll ad-
vised."
That was an important point, he
continued, because among the 'l30,-
! 100000 amateur strategists in this
country" many probably would ad-
vocate just such a follow-up action.
The press conference brought out
two apparent reasons why the situ-
alton at Dutch Harbor is somewhat
obscure.
Admiral King explained that the
weather there had been very bad for
several days and he also emphasized
the fact that he requires of his Of
f1cers in the field only minimum
of information 10 be reported to
Washington, relying on their abil-
tiles to handle the local situations
according to general orders issued
by Washington.
japanese Attack Plan Apparent.
Admiral King said in statement
reviewing the background of the
present activities in the Pacific that
1T was apparent shortly after the
Coral Sea action lending about May
g. that the Japs would have to 60
somewhere and do something"
The forces they had at hand
and the general military situation
could mean nothing but that they
would try to break out somewhere"
he interpolated, adding that they
could not afford to sit by while
Australia and other bastions threat
ening their existence grew steadily
stronger.
Looking at the map. almost any
body could see that among our vari-
Gus important outposts, Dutch Har-
Dor and Midway offered them the
best chance of an action either In
the nature of a raid or an invasion
with some hope of success, or of a
nature that in case Of a reverse
would allow them to retire without
too great loss or complete annihila-
tion,' Admiral Kings statement con-
tinued.
"At the same time, we were fully
aware that they might renew the
actions in the Coral Sea-even
though they had recently been
'stung' there.
so to this extent we were pre-
pared for the assault upon Midway
and recognized that Alaska might
also be attacked"
Calculated Risk" Basis.
The American decision to prepare
for an assault on Midway, Admiral
Kipr IN fol iv,f~
GRAFTON the necessity of protecting
also the line of communication be-
tween the United States and Aus
tralia. But, he declared, decision to
act had to be taken on the basis of
calculated risk"
The phrase calculated risk" was
used several times by the admiral
during the conference and he eX-
planned it as being the principle for
deciding what use to make OF avail
able forces on the chance of being
attacked in some other area.
Certainly" Admiral King said,
"if We had known exactly when and
where and in what force the enemy
intended to strike we might perhaps
have afforded some diversions from
our other vital areas of protection.
But as the results will prove, be-
lieve, We shall have nothing to
apologize for in the present action.
Il cannot now go into the details
Of our own forces that were en-
gagged, or ready to be engaged. The
japanese probably do not exactly
know them, but they have cause to
know plenty"
In explaining preparatory steps
taken, Admiral King said both he
and Gen. George c. Marshall. Army
chief of staff, felt because of jap
anese psychology that some face
saving "reprisal In kind" was in
evitable after Gen. James Doolittle's
air raid on Japan. Secretary Of
War Stimson, Admiral King noted,
had also emphasized that belief.