Evening star., 1944-05-22
Admiral King Warns
Against Minimizing
War Tasks Ahead
Navy Chief Is Speaker
At Messing Of CoIors
On Cathedral Grounds
By JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.

BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.
Declaring America has reasons to
be confident of victory but solemnly
warning that it would be IAN in
justice to those who are about to go
into battle" if the tasks ahead were
minimized, Admiral Ernest j. King,
commander in chief of the United
States Fleet and chief of naval op-
erations, yesterday afternoon ad-
dressed a congregation of 10000
people assembled on the south slope
of Mount st. Alban for the 17th an
nual Massing of the Colors service
in honor of the heroic dead of all
wars.
Admiral King stressed the in
structive significance of the Ma
tion's experience since Pearl Har-
Dor. This war;" he said, has
taught us the high value of tradi-
ton the summation of the vir-
tues and the successes of our an
cestors. We revere our traditions
to be sure, but that is not enough
Before we rightfully can claim
them as our own, Intangible as they
may be, we must prove ourselves
worthy of them. We should regard
them as inspirations to go and do
likewise. Today the American peo-
pie are making traditions of their
own. AS we create traditions for
ourselves and our children, we
prove ourselves the more worthy to
inherit the traditions of our faith
ers."
Vast Operations Impend.
With regard to activities imme-
diately ahead Admiral King ex-
planned:
Fortress Europe will be assaulted
In what promises to be the most
formidable military undertaking ir
history. In the Pacific other vas1
operations are pending, for. despit.
recent advances, we are still fal
from the citadel of Japan which
must be preached before the war /.
won.
"We Of the armed services have
pondered these great problems; We
have calculated the risks; we know
the obstacles. But we also know
our own strength. We have the
men, the ships, the planes, the
weapons and plans and the team
work. I can assure you that wher
the zero hour arrives we shall not
fail.
I'VE are cool, we are confident
But there is a tendency
abroad in the land to believe that
the end of the war is close at hand
both in the Atlantic and in the Pa
ciflc. must remind you that there
is little justification for such wish.
full thinking"
While the congregation sat In
silence Admiral King eulogized these
heroes who will live because free.
dom shall live" He referred di.
rectly to the late Secretary of the
Navy Knox, prophesying: mo mar
will be longer revered and remem.
bered by the Navy"
$50 Organizations Particiate.
The procession into the amphi.
theater was led by the Spars Bar.
racks Drum Corps and there were
flags and banners of more than 25(
patriotic and civic organizations il
the line of march. The service wa.
arranged by Canon w. Curti
Draper in association with Mai
Ennalls Waggaman, chairman O.
the committee in charge, and 1t
Col. Edwin S. Bethlehem, ir., repre-.
senting the Military Order of the
World War, as sponsor.
Admiral King was introduced By
Brig. Gen. Albert L. Cox, who briefly
paid tribute to the Right Rev. James
E. Freeman, who listened to, last
years colors service in the room ir
the Bishops house in the shadow OF
the Cathedral, where shortly after.
ward he died.
The Right Rev. Angus Dun
Bishop Freeman's successor, anC
Maj. Gen. Walter C. Baker, D. C
commander, M. o. w. W., presided
Musician Edward Masters, sound.
ed Taps" and the Marine Band
Capt. William F. Santelman con-
Quoting, played a concert of sacred
music while the congregation
gathered.