Evening star., 1945-11-21
Richardson Transfer
Blamed on Hurting
Rooseye|t's S FEELINGS
CONTINUED From First Page.

unfortunately" Admiral Rich
ardson replied. "I am rather def
mite in most of my opinions"
Admiral Richardson said the
name of Rear Admiral Husband E.
Kimmel. who succeeded him as
commander of the Pacific Fleet,
was on a list of officers he had
suggested as available for important
assignments at sea. He said he had
pointed out that more officers
should be given executive exper-
ience at sea because many of the
officers then serving were older men
who might have to be relieved be-
cause of health or for other rea-
sons.
Earlier Senator Ferguson asked
Admiral Richardson whether there
was any conveying of vessels in the
Pacific while he was fleet COM
mander in 1910.
Admiral Richardson said he could
recall only one such occasion. He
thought it was in December, 1910,
that he got an order to escort the
American transport Chaumont from
Honolulu to Guam, where the
Asiatic fleet would protect it to
Cavite in the Philippines.
Ingersoll Explanation.
At the time, he said, he had no
information as to why she was
being guarded or what was the
cargo" After he was relieved of
command in February, 1941. and had
returned to Washington he asked
Admiral Royal E. Ingersoll, then
assistant chief of naval operations,
about 1t as matter of curiosity.
He stated it was rumored, there
were German raiders operating in
the mid-Pacific, and I was directed
to escort her against possible at
tack" Admiral Richardson replied.
Importance of much of the testi-
mony given late yesterday and today
about tentative administration plans
for blockading commerce to and
from Japan late in 1910. If the Japs
took any drastic action following the
opening of the Burma road, was
minimiZed when Chairman Barkley
asked the witness if these theoretical
plans were ever carried out.
My recollection is they never
materialized," Admiral Richardson
replied. The British opened the
Burma road, and the Japs did
nothing that disturbed us or the
British very much"
Senator Barkley asked the admiral
if it was not the practice to take
ships of the Pacific fleet into Pearl
Harbor from time to time to give
the men recreation and to get sup
plies.
The admiral agreed, and added
there were more ships in the harbor
in December, 1910, than were there
in December, 1941, when the attack
occurred.
| At the close Of his testimony
Admiral Richardson was asked if
he had anything to add to what he
already had told the committee. He
replied:
Il want it known that I never
bore any resentment toward Presi-
dent Roosevelt because of my de-
tachment from command of the
| fleet. He was the constitutional
commander in chief of the armed
forces and I was one of his chief
subordinates.
Kept Lips Sealed.
There was difference of opinion
between us. Neither could induce
the other to change this opinion
Had I been the commander in chief
of the Army and Navy I would have
taken the same action he did"
Admiral Richardson added that
when he was assigned to the Navy
General Board here he kept my
lips sealed and put my weight on
the oar wherever it seemed to be
needed" Admiral Richardson said
this led to many rumors, most of
which were false.
Il hope my testimony has clarified
the situation to some extent" he
told the committee.
! Admiral William D. Leahy, chief
of staff to the President, is ready
to testify this afternoon. The COM
| HlJbSe Is expected 10 ask lot MS
recollection of what Mr.. Roosevelt
said at the White House luncheon
on October 8, 1910, which he at
tended along with Admiral Rich
ardson.
Personnel Shortage Discussed.
There was a long discussion of
the shortage of personnel before
Pearl Harbor. Questioned about his
testimony that the Navy was not
ready for war in 1910, the admiral
told Senator Lucas, Democrat, of
Illinois it was as ready then as 1t
had been for a number of years.
When Senator Lucas asked If that
was entirely in the hands of Con-
gress, the witness answered, "ab-
solutely"
Later Senator Ferguson suggested
there might be some conflict be-
tween that statement and his testi-
mony that the President could have
increased naval personnel more
rapidly.
Admiral Richardson replied that
Congress, normally, does not limit