Evening star., 1945-09-29
|Ha|sey, al 81, Asks
For Retirement 10 LET
Young Men Take 0vel
By the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press.
PEARL HARBOR, Sept. 90
Admiral William F. Halsey. the
famed graying commander of
the Sd Fleet. has asked to be
retired at 62.
I'm an old man, let the young
fellows take over" Admiral Halsey
said yesterday.
His words were strangely subdued
in contrast to the whip-cracking
way the outspoken admiral used
to refer to his enemy as Those
monkey men" and to voice his IA
vorite motto: Kill Japs-sink
ships"
you don't know how much trou-
BILE get into every time I talk"
Admiral Halsey explained when
asked why an advance notice of
a press conference gave indication
that caution would play a major
role In the interview.
MY wife told me to be more
dignifled in my expressions" the
admiral said, laughingly.
He said he had applied for retire.
ment but had no word OF action
on the application. Gn Washing
ton, the Navy said 1t had not
been receivedD.
He INDUCED in just a bit of
his old-time banter, saying he was
sorry he did not get to see the
zoo keeper in Tokyo. once quoted
In an enemy broadcast as having
reserved "a special cage in the
monkey house" for Halsey.
On the serious side, Admiral
Halsey said that Gen. Macarthur,
IF they will leave him alone and
tell him what they want" will see
that Japan never rises beyond a
fifth-rate nation, which it now is"
He did not elaborate, but referred
to recent criticism of a so-called
soft glove" policy.
He said compulsory military train
is necessity, and added that the
atomic bomb will be "countered."
The doughboy and the Navy al
ways will be needed" he said.
Then Admiral Halsey, who once
expressed desire to ride through
Tokyo on Emperor Hirohito's white
horse, became his light-hearted self
again and pointed to present
some one had sent him. It was
white wooden rocking horse. He led
In the laughter.
Escorted Doolittle's Ship.
The admirals decision to bow out
OF one of the most dramatic roles
in Navy history served to recall
record which, even in summary
catches the breath. And here 1t Is:
AS vice admiral, commanding Pa
cific aircraft carriers, at sea when
Pearl Harbor attacked. Went on
defensive patrol
Early in 1912, led revamped task
force against Marshalls and Gil
berts. Won Distinguished Service
Medal. Then led force against
Wake and Marcus. Commanded
warships which escorted carrier
Hornet for Jimmie Doolittle's raid
on Japan April 10. 1912.
The following October Is. took
command in South Pacific (Solo-
mons. Won battle of Santa Cruz
October 26. On November l3. 14.I
Is his admittedly "shoestring" feet
sank at least % enemy vessels in
decisive engagement at Guadal-
canal Became full admiral.
Took Sd Fleet Command.
June Is. 1914. relinquished South
Pacific command after working
himself out Of job in area where
Japanese lost 10000 men, 4,8oo
planes and so many ships I can
not count them" Was awarded
Gold Star, In lieu Of second DSM,
for job well done.
June II. got the job his heart
desired-commander OF Sd Fleet.
From then on the record is too
voluminous for even a summary.
Admiral Halsey was highly in
huential in the selection of Leyte
for the re-invasion of the Philip
pines. His warships helped keep
the japanese Navy away from that
operation. 1t ranged far to send
planes against the Asiatic main
land and Japan.
At wars end. Admiral Halseys
big Sd Fleet was roaming at will
off Japan, even shelling its coastal
cities. That feet led the way into
Tokyo Bay. supplied the battleship
Missouri for the surrender cere-
mony and stayed on until the oc-
cupation was an accomplished fact.
Admiral Halsey came back to
Pearl Harbor on his way home toI
Navy Day festivities