Evening star., 1945-10-06

l. SPCCSHCS ut y
all available ships to move men to-
ward their homes,
Fighting Men Hate War.
While we wait. however, it is not
too early to begin to think of our
future from the standpoint of Ma
tional defense I think that those
who have done the fighting hate
war even more than you do. Yet
We professional naval and military
men cannot take the attitude, as
much as We would like to, that wars
are thing of the past. Such an
attitude would be betrayal of the
Nation which we are sworn to
serve. and which trains us and
gives us the tools which make it
possible to defend our country in
time of need
I sincerely hope that We. as
Americans. will be hard-headed and
realistic in our approach to the
possibility of future wars. We
know that they would involve a de-
structive use OF rockets, of guided
missiles, of atomic power. and per-
haps Of more devastating weapons
which have not yet been demon
strated in action.
To stand guard against the pos
sible scientific attack of the fu-
ture. our Nation has the right to
demand body Of professional naval
and military men of higher stand
ing than any in our history. These
men must be as familiar with
chronological research and develop
ment as they are with the use oil
weapons at sea and in the field
They must know all the new weap-
ons, how to counter them in de-
fense. and how to use them in
offenSe.
Favers Adequate Preparation.
Merely to provide and maintain
this body of professional soldier,
and sailors, however, will not b
enough. 1t should be remembered
that professional soldier or sailor
becomes national luxury only wher
the forces under his command be-
come SO weakened that he is foreec
to fight a war. This does no
necessarily mean that we shonle
keep huge Army and Navy.
think We are all agreed that We
should make the greatest reduction
possible in keeping with certain con.
tinuing national security.
We should never forget, however
that adequate preparation-and thai
permanent attitude of willingness tt
defend our freedom-will alway:
stand as our greatest contribution
TO continuing world peace
Our Nation should rely very
strongly, in the years to come. or
the influence and advice of the ner
who have fought and won this pres
ent war. No one knows better ths
importance of seapower, for Instance
both now and In the futare-thar
those men of the Naval Reserve who
made up 98 per cent OF my naval
command in the Pacific. Those men
were trusted in battle when oul
national life was at stake. They
never once failed to do more thar
was asked of them. l am confident
that, when they again become civil
ians, they will not change.
As men who have seen war AND
who know war. they will demand
that our Nation remain ever strons
they will stand as Vfgilant sentinels
over our national preparation and
our national strength. And, with
your help. they win see to it that
never in their lifetime does it be-
come necessary to fight another war
The tert OF Admiral Ntnafts's
speech at the Monument Grounds
yesterday afternoon tolloDs:
You do me great honor and ] &C.
cept as honoring the 2,o00, 900 OF
more men under my command In
the Pacific.
This key is what Japanese Ad.
miral Ysmanoto needed to dictate
the peace in the White House. I'm
glad he didn't get it.
Earlier today I was accorded the
privilege Of appearing before a joint
session of the Congress Of the United
States. At that time 1 said-and
repeat ii now-that I can accept
none of these honors for myself a.
an individual I can accept them
and gratefully do accept them-ir
the name of all the soldiers, sailors
and Marines who fought under my
command i'm the Pacific. Those
men have just helped to win harc
and bitter war. They have addee
bright new traditions to our Ma.
tion's heritage OF bravery and honor
In doing so, they have merited tr
the fullest every recognition and al
the gratitude that il Is in our power
TO hestow.
/ know these Pacific fighting rneT
well, for it was my good fortune te
be allowed to serve with them. Ir
my opinion, there has never been 4
finer body of determined patriots
even among those early American:
who fought under the great mar
whose monument rises here as {
symbol of freedom throughout tn,
world.
But or great war is now over
and we pray to God that it has trul,
been our last great war. The either
members OF our armed forces ar,
now thinking mostly OF returning !,
their homes and loved enes. Thos,
Of us who are professional nava
and military men are also thinking
and working hard on the problem
OF mainaRfning our national securit,
while Sti8f getting those men bacl
TO Their homes in the shortest pos,
L III - n n - =