BLAST AT STARK

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 255, 27 October 1945, Page 10

BLAST AT STARK

FORRESTAL PUZZLE

MEANINGLESS, SAYS NAVY s By EDWARD NELLOR WASHINGTON Navy circles in Washington are leaking for the reason behind Secretary Forrestal's blast at Admiral Harold Stark in the report on Pean Harbour. As it now stands Stark nas a blot on his record which is utterly without practical application insofar as it affects his future career, Navymen point out. In addition Stark has twice been decorated since Pearl Harbour, and both awards were made for accomplishments requiring superior judgment. There is also a recommendation on the desk of the Secretary of the Navy at the present time, which, if approved, would award Stark his third Navy D.S.M. It was on the issue of superior judgment that Forrestal criticised Stark. Never again, he said, would the Admiral be "recalled into active duty in any position in which the exercise of superior judgment may be necessary.'" Subsequent Awards

Navy Board of Inquiry findings concerning the Pearl Harbour disaster piaced heavy responsibility for the tack of alertness on Stark, who was then Chief of Naval Operations. Forrestal at the same time was an assistant Secretary under Colonel Frank Knox. General Marshall, who was the Army's counterpart in Stark's position, and who was criticised for pre-Pearl Harbour failures, was just as solidly defended by Secretary of War Stimson. The Navy is wondering why Forrestal took the opposite view regarding Stark. On April 9, 1942, almost six months after Pearl Harbour, the late President Roosevelt called Stark to the White House and •in ceremonies there awarded him a Gold Star, for his meritorious discharge of duties, which involved superior judgment as Chief of Naval Operations prior to and following the Hawaii attack.

Early in March of the same year Stark was assigned as commander of United States Naval Forces in Europe and as commander of the Twelfth Fleet, which was operating in those waters. He retained. this command until August 16, 1945, and during this time was decorated by the Army with the Distinguished Service Medal, for performing "duties of great responsibility in a superior manner. At the present time the Admiral is performing some undisclosed Navy chore, but is not retired, as Forrestal's remarks might indicate. He is, however, past the statutory retirement age by several years. Just what the Navy Secretary expected to accomplish in passing decision on Stark" has many naval officers puzzled. The chances of Stark ever again being assigned a top-flight job in the Navy are remote, not because of Forrestal's decision, but solely because of his age and the fact that he has served the Navy ably in difficult assignments and is ready to step down. These facts make Forrestal's remarks meaningless, Navy men point out, and in addition they privately question his judgment which labelled a respected admiral as incapable of top command while he was actually performing it. They feel that events subsequent to Pearl Harbour in which Stark played a major part should have, as they did in the case of Marshall; caused the secretary to defend Stark instead of criticising him.—Auckland Star and N.A.N. A.