Evening star., 1945-10-06
Niiniitz
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first six months after Pearl Harbor
were the hardest part of the Pa
clflc war. At Coral Sea, he added,
We showedewhat we could do" and
the Battle Of Midway definitely was
the turning point of the war.
Says Jap Strategy Was Correct.
Admiral Nimitz said the attack on
Pearl Harbor strategically was the
correct, thing for Japan to do, but
her mistake was in not following it
up by an effort to capture Hawaii.
which could have served as a base of
operations against the West Coast
of the United States.
Japan he said, being a mari
time nation, should have realized
that her best chances of success were
IN establishing her sea power for
complete control of the Pacific be-
fore undertaking further land con-
quests"
Admiral Nhnitz said he thought
the end would have been the same
without the atomic bomb or Russia
as an ally, but 1T would have taken
longer"
He took occasion to pay tribute to
the valor and efficiency of American
submarines, pointing out that thev
got inside the inner defenses of
Japan and not only wreaked great
oamage on Japanese shipping, but
also saved the lives of a great MANY
American Navy and Army flyers
Who had been forced down at sea.
Honered by Philippines.
Admiral Nimitz was honored bv
the Philippine government at noon
when President OSmena bestowed on
him at the Philippine Headquarters
the Medal Of Valor, highest decora-
ton OF. the island government.
Admiral Nimitz was the second
man in Philippines history to get
the decoration. The other was Gen,
Macarthur.
With hlgh-ranking military. naval
and Government officials standing
by, Mr.. Osmena read the citation
detailing how Admiral Nimitz had
hurled the power of ships, men and
aircraft against the enemy"
Fleet Admiral Nimitz' service to
the people of the Philippines has
evoked their lasting gratitude and
friendship" the citation concluded
Then, President Osmena added
this tribute:
This decoration is the highest
IN the power of my people to give
We want you and the whole world
to know that we are grateful tn
you, to your country and to the
brave men who fought under your
command, for your MAGNIFICENT
share in the great victory which
restored our freedom"
Plans to Stay Until Wednesday.
Admiral Nimltz plans to STAY in
Washington until Wednesday when
ne will go to New York for another
big reception.
The citizens of Washington closed
Nln1ltz Gay with gala banquet for
the admiral at the Mayffower Hotel
last night, and 1000 gathered in a
f1oWer-strewn, fag-decked ballroom
to fete their hero in toast and song
expressing at the dinner his
heartfelt gratitude for the tributes
paid him throughout the crowded
day, the bronzed commander in
chief of the Pacific Fleet. the five
star admiral who was the arehi-
tect of victory in the Far East,
expressed, in turn, his thanks to the
men who made it possible to destroy
the sea power of Japan, to the
many thousands who served in the
naval and land forces he led
Turning to the IA newly decorated
Medal of Honor men; sailors and
Marines of all ranks, who sat at
a table just below him, the soft
spoken Texan spoke of their bravery
and added, departing from the writ
ten text of his speech: There are
men like them by the thousands.
Iney worked together like a team
In lighter mood, the smiling ad-
mral locked down the head table,
and, agalh depressing informally, he
pointed to one of his famed com
nnanders, Vice Admiral Marc A.
Mitscher, remarking that with him
they could get up a pretty good task
force right in the room. And then
there'd be LIT. Gen. Holland Smith.
who also sat there-the man vho
commanded Marines in some of
their most important operations.
And, the admiral added, there was
Comdr. David McCampbell, the cele-
brated flyer, and Lit. Col. Gregory
Boyington, the Marine ace, and
others.
We've got everything we need
right here to conduct little war, ..
he remarked.
Tribute to Reserve Officers.
But his special tribute was for
the reserve officers = the citizen
saIors-who made up 98 per cent
of the officers apd men in the Navy.
the Marine Cdps and Che Coast
Guard, he remiszded his hosts.
~Ihese fighting men in the Pa