Evening star., 1944-01-13


ese in the South Pacific, so that it
Is now the Japanese who remain in
hiding avoiding battle and hus-
banding their defensive strength
for they no longer hold the Of
fensive.
Admiral Halsey received another
medal from the Secretary of the
Navy, and had a brief interview
with the President. There is no
lack of appreciation anywhere here
in Official quarters for the fine job
done in the South Pacific. But
this war seems to be so different
the public doesn't seem to have
the opportunity to show its ap-
probation.
Admiral Halsey came here quietly
probably he preferred to be left
to attend to his own affairs But
it would have been fitting if both
houses of Congress had received him
and given him the mark of personal
appreciation which is so important
nowadays to the fighting men. For
it is not their commanders but the
men who fight under them who thus
60 unrecognized.
The Pacific war has been a tough
war to date and will be a tougher
one in the months to come. Ad-
rrliral Halsey has the grim courage
which makes him a natural leader.
He, it will be recalled, escorted the
aircraft carrier that approached
Japan and sent Doolittle's raiders
to bomb Toxic. He was given COM
mand of the Navy in the South
Pacific about Is months ago. He
took over from Vice Admiral Ghorm-
ley who had been fighting on shoe
string, so to speak, and whose health
failed him.
Admiral King, Commander in
Chief of the Fleet and one of the
most notable of the unsung heroes
of this war, sensed the situation and
sent Admiral Halsey to take charge.
He knew that Admiral Halsey's
qualities fitted the problems and the
situation exactly.
When Admiral Halsey took hold
the United States forces had just
begun the Solomon Islands cam
paign. Critics called it island
hopping But 1t was more than
that. 1t was a well-calculated
plan to take over islands that would
give us air bases. Today the plan
stands out as virtually accomplished.
We have driven the Japanese out
of the Solomons or rendered un-
tenable the few positions left Mean
while, Gen. Macarthur, coming UP
from New Guinea and the left flank,
has reached into New Britain with
troops and into New Ireland with
bombing planes. We are at last
face to face with the open Pacific
in the southern sector. We are on
the way to the Philippines and we
threaten Truk and the Japanese
right flank in the Pacific.
Coincidentally, we are approach
ing the enemy in mid-Pacific and,
when the weather gets better in the
summer, we will be approaching
from the north as well. The entire
Navy is gathering strength for the
steady series of blows that must
be inflicted on the Japanese Navy
and bases on the way to Toxic. 1t
may take two or three years more
the distances are large and the
supply problems are unprecedented
in their difficulties-but thanks to
the brave men who have given their
lives in the South Pacific and thanks
to these who remain out there on
our ships, alert and vigilant against
Japanese activities, the situation is
50 much better than it was 16 months
ago that the whole Nation could
well breathe a sigh of relief and
say thanks to Admiral King and
particularly to his stanch COM
mander, Admiral Halsey. "a
It has been a joint operation
Army, Navy and Marine Corps. Ad-
miral Halsey likes to see all men,
bers of the armed services in the
same khaki uniforms. He thinks
of them all as the United States
team, and his cooperation with
Gen. Macarthur has been such that
it furnishes an example of what
unified command can do when the
commanders are able and disinter-
ested
The chances are that some day
out of the Soutl. Pacific experience
many historical narrative will be
written which will evaluate the con-
tribution made by Admiral Halsey
and the naval, air and marine forces
under him.
AS he goes back to the Pacific to
the grim business of command in
what may prove decisive stages of
the war, the we'll wishes of his
countrymen should 60 with him.
For if there can be no applause
from the street in this war as he
rides by, there can at least be words
of appreciation to a really heroic
leader of an American fighting