Evening star., 1946-01-16
|KinnnneICharges
'Crucifixiion
|BeforePub|ic
Admiral Says He
Cont Forget
Sturk's Actions
BY J. A. O'LEARY and
CARTER BROOKE JONES.

Rear Admiral Husband e.
Kimmel, commander of the Pa
cific Fleet when Pearl Harbor
was attacked, told the congress
sional investigating committee
today his "crucifixion before the
public" had about reached the
limit" in Navy Department an
nouncements early in 1912.
irresponsible people" over the
country took him to task and even
threatened to kill him. he said.
Admiral Kimmel brought out un-
revealed facts about his retirement,
at the departments suggestion,
when his questioning was begun
by Seth w. Richardson, chief coun-
sci for the committee
Asked about his relations with
Admiral Harold r. Stark, chief of
naval operations in 1941, Admiral
Kimmel said: I'VE had been friends
since Naval Academy days. I had
the highest regard for him. trust
ed him, and I felt that he was one
of my best friends"
Then the admiral paused and
added:
But I can't forget the-fact-
well, events that have occurred since
then"
Reasons for Retirement.
Questioned about details of his
retirement, few months after
Pearl Harbor, Admiral Kimnel read
the committee a letter he wrote
Admiral Stark February %, 1912.
1t stated:
Il submitted my request for re-
tirement because I was notified that
Short maj. Gen. Walter c. Short,
Army commander in Hawaii in 194D
had done so and took that notifica-
ton as a suggestion for me to do
likewise. submitted this request
solely to permit the department to
take whatever action they deemed
best for the interests of the country.
l did not submit it in order to es-
cape censure or punishment.
Admiral Kimmel added in the let
ter: when the fact that Short and
I had submitted requests for retire
ment was published to the country,
I was astounded that the depart
ment would put Short and me in
such light before the public"
Other highlights of Admiral Kim
mel's testimony today were:
That he urged President Roosevelt
/, in the summer of 1941 not to trans
fer second division of warships
from the Pacific to the Atlantic, and
it was not done. One division of 3
battleships, l carrier, 18 destroyers
and light cruisers already had been
transferred in the spring.
/ Bloch Wanted Spies Seized.
1 That the Navy commandant in
Hawaii, Admiral Claude C. Bloch,
wanted to put number of suspected
Japanese agents there "in the Jug
in the summer of 194l but the Army
objected.
That Hawaii needed more planes
IN 1941, not only to find an ap-
preaching enemy, but to provide a
striking force If they were located.
1T doesn't profit you much to dis
cover the enemy if you don't have
anything to hit him with" the ad-
miral added.
The letter from Admiral Kimmel
to Admiral Stark continued:
"On February 10 received noti-
lfication by the Secretary that would
be placed on the retired list on
March l, 1912. Paragraph two of
this letter states, this approval of
your request for retirement is with
out conformation of any offense or
prejudice to future disciplinary ac-
I ton.
i Ready to Accept Consequences.
II do not understand this para
graph unless it is to be published to
the country as promise that I will
be disciplined at some future time,
I stand ready at any time to &C
cept the consequences of my. acts,
do not wish to embarrass the Gov
ernment in the conduct of the war,
do feel. however, that my cruci-
fixion before the public has about
reached the limit. I am in daily
fSee PEARL HARROR. PAGE A-6