The Wilmington morning star., 1945-08-30
MARSHALL, SHORT
HIT BY REPORT
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(Continued from Page One)
naissance being conducted by the
NAVY and did not replace lnef1l'
cient staff officers.
Secretary Stimson said the
Boards criticism of General Mar
shall was "entirely unjCstified. "
He added that ION the contrary
troughout this matter I believe that
he Marshall acted with his usual
skill, energy and efficiency"
President Truman said he asso'
slated himself Fundamentally
xath this expression by the Secre'
fary of War;" adding:
"Indeed have the fullest con-
fidence in the skill, energy and
efficiency of al our War leaders,
both Army and Navy"
The army report was dated Oct.
20, 1914 and v,s signed by Lieut..
Gen. George Grunert, president;
and Maj. Gems. Henry D. Russell
and Walter H. Frank, members.
The Naval Court of InqUirys re-
port was dated Oct. 10, 1914. 1t
gave the "opinion' that mo Of
lenses have been committed nor
Serious blame incurred on the part
of any person or persons in the
naval service" and recommended
no further proceedings.
After reading the record and in
dorsements by Rear Admiral T. l..
Catch, Judge Advocate General OF
the Navy, and Admiral Ernest ].
King, chief of naval operations,
Navy Secretary Forrestal directed
that:
l. Rear Admiral Husband E.
Kimmel shall not hold any posi-
ton in the U. S. Navy which re-
ouires the exercise of superior
Judgment (Kimmel was retired
the same day Gen. Short was re-
tired from the Army.)
2. Admiral Harold R. Stark al
SO shall not hold any Navy posi-
ton requiring the exercise OF "su-
perior judgment"
Forrestals directive was not dat
ed. Stark was not relieved Until
March IL. 1912 when the duties Of
chief of naval operations and com
mander in chief, U. S. Fleet, were
combined under Admiral King. ST,
days later Stark was given com
mand of the U. S. Naval force
in Europe with concurrent dut.
as commander of the 18th Fleet
Stark was recently relieved o
that assignment by Admiral Henr.
K. Hewitt and returned to tn
United States preparatory to re
tirement, having passed the retire
ment age of "a.
Stimson said Sufficient action
already had been taken agains
Gen. Short, whom he described a
a man with long record of "ea
cellent service
MY conclusion is," he sale
'that under all the circumstance
the evidence now recorded doe
not warrant the institution Of an
further proceedings against any Of
ficer in the army"
He said all of the Army Board
report is now public except tha
part which would reveal source
of secret information, but that tn
Department would make availabl
to Congressional committees tn
full reports and the record Of tn
testimony.
In defending General Marshall
Stimson said the Army Board!
criticism arose from a 'fundamen
tai misconception of the duties o
the chief of staff and his relation
with the divisions and activities o
the general staff"
ut is not the function Of th'
Chief of Sta," he added, 'speci
ically to direct and PERSONALLY
supervise the execution in detail O.
the duties of the various sections O
the general staff. His paramount
duty is to advise the Presiden
and the Secretary of War, and tt
make plans for and supervise tn
organization, equipment, and train
ing of a great army for globa
war; to advise on, and himself t.
make, decisions regarding basi'
problems of military strategy il
the many possible theaters in VIII cl
the war might develop and in othe
fundamental and broad militar,
problems which conront the Unite'
States.
"It would hopelessly cripple tn
performance of these great ant
paramount duties should a CHE
Of staff allow himself to becom
immersed in administrative detail
by which the plans or defens
are carried out in our many oUt
posts.'
Stimson said the underlying caus
of what he called Shorts "erro
of Judgment was his "confidenc
that the Japanese would not the
attack Pearl Harbor." In fairnes
to Short, he added, it must b
borne in mind that this belle
was shared in by almost everyon
concerned, including his superio
officers in the War Department i
Washington.
Others taken to task included Ac
miral Harold R. Stark. who wa
chief of Naval operations at tn