Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-09-16
Fighting Ships
May Participate
In Ninnitz Day
Program in October
Includes FuII-Lenqth
Parade on Avenue

celebration which will give tn,
Capital the chance it has wanted
to honor the triumphant Pacifi,
naval forces and their com,
mander in chief.
A display of naval might in Wash
tngton waters and in the air is ex.
pected to be among the unusual fea
lures of the pageantry, which is tt
include a full-length~ parade alons
Pennsylvania avenue and ceremon.
les at the Capitol.
The Citizens Committee which
planned the recent rousing welcome
for Gen. Wainwright is taking thu
lead in planning Nimitz Day. Com.
missioner John Russell Young, pres.
ident of the District governine
board. has called meeting of thi.
citizens group for 3 pm. tomorrow
at the District Building to discuss
arrangements.
Committees Completing Plans.
The Senate and House Nava
Committees, meanwhile, are COM
pleting plans to receive Admira,
Chester w. Nimitz, his staff anc
other high officers who led our forces
to victory in the Pacific. The Ma
TONS gratitude will be expressed
at a joint session of Congress.
Preliminary plans for Nimitz DaS
were revealed yesterday by Chair.
man Vinson of the House Nava
Committee. This is our chance
to honor our great Navy" he said
I'VE have been delighted at the op-
portunity to pay tribute to two O.
our top Army leaders, Gen. Essen
hover and Gen. Wainwright, ane
now it's the Nays turn. We hop,
to make this one of the most me.
morable celebrations in the history
of Capital noted for such pa.
geantry.'
While the Navy Department made
no announcement regarding The
celebration, leaving it to the citizen.
of the District and members o.
Congress, its cooperation wa.
known to have been enlisted by
leaders on Capitol Hill. Plans are
under way to provide Admiral MIN.
itz and his commanders with an ap-
propriate escort of ships, planes
and men.
Combat Ships Expected.
Although no details have beer
announced, it is expected that some
of the ships which saw active serv-
Ice in the Pacific will be on hand.
Navigators familiar with these
waters pointed out that light cruisers
are the largest type of naval ship
which can go up the Potomac as far
as Washington. Kettle Bottom
Shoals, near the mouth of the river
with controlling depth of only "a
feet, would ground battleships OF
aircraft carriers. Even light cruisers
have to trim their cargoes and fuel
tanks to make the shadows.
Yet the Capital may see some
cruisers and destroyers which have
performed heroic feats in the
Pacific. The cruisers Boise, Rich
mond and Concord and the des-
troyers Charles Ausburne, Aulick
Klaxton, Dyson, Braine, Converse,
Foote, Young, John Rodgers, Har-
rison, Mckee, Murray, Kimberly
Ringgold, Schroeder, Sigsbee and
Dashiell are enroute from war zones
to the Atlantic and are expected to
arrive in ample time for the cele-
bration.
All these ships which helped
wreck the japanese Navy can navi-
gate the Potomac, and some or all
of them may be here to welcome
their commander in chief and his
aides and a large number of sailors
and marines who fought in the
Pacific.
Navy planes of every types are at
bases within easy reach and are
expected to salute the returning
heroes in impressive numbers. Any
number of surface ships smaller
than destroyers could come.
If the Navy wants some of its
largest ships near at hand, the cele-
pration could overflow to annapolis.
Even battleships can anchor in An
napolis Roads, and Admiral Nimitz
could, If he desired, sail up Chesa-
peake Bay on his flagship.
Many Displays in Past.
Washington has seen in the past
many displays of naval power, with
visiting ships of the modern era dat
ing from celebrations that followed
the Spanish American War.
A notable naval pageant was held
during a national conclave of the
Order of the Mystic Shrine in June,
1928 A squadron of destroyers was
included The cruiser Memphis
brought Charles Lindbergh here in
1927 fresh from his pioneer flight
across the Atlantic Various NAVY
days in the early 3Os brought ships
up the Potomac and open house at
the Navy Yard.
An old-fashioned parade, moving
leisurely along the avenue, is
planned by the sponsors of Nimitz
Day. There will be enough martial
music and marching feet to lift
everyone's spirit.
Representative Vinson and other
leaders of the celebration are hope
full that several four-star admirals
beside the five-starred Nimitz. will
be on hand. These may include
the colorful Admiral William F..
Halsey, jr., commander of the Sd
Fleet; Admiral Raymond A. Spru-
ance, who led the 5th Fleet into
spectacular victories, and Admiral
Thomas c. Kinkaid, who commands
the Southwest Pacific forces and
the 7th Fleet. It is possible that
large number of high officers
vice admirals and rear admirals-
will be relieved of their duties tenn
porarily to receive the acclaim of
their country.
Aside from the commanders, how
ever, the rank and file of the NAVY.
the Bluejacket and the Marine
private, will be honored that dav.
Decorated heroes of the fighting in
the Pacific will be paid special
tribute in the ceremonial welcome
1t is expected that President Tru-
man will receive the Capitals val