Japanese Fleet Will Not Come Out

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 44, 21 February 1945, Page 5

Japanese Fleet Will Not Come Out

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19. “The Japanese fleet will not come out and fight. We will have to dig them out, ’ ’ declared Admiral Halsey when addressing a Press conference during a surprise visit to Washington. He added: “The Japanese have very little left with which to fight, and what they have is in none too good shape.’’ Asked what would be necessary to bring the Japanese to a showdown, Admiral Halsey, replied: “I don’t know. I can’t get myself into a rat’s frame of mind. It is evident that even the stupid, bestial Japanese sees that he is losing control of the sea everywhere.’ ’ PLANS SPEEDED UP Admiral Halsy disclosed that information brought out of the Philippines by an American flyer who had been shot down led to the decision to make a sudden change of plans for the invasion of the Philippines. Admiral Halsey said his naval forces were steaming off the Philippines, practically without opposition, knocking down Japanese planes right and left. “The guerrillas took care of an American airmen who was shot down, and next day (September 13) we got him off. He gave us information which led me to believe the time was ripe to go in. “I reported to Admiral Nimitz and General MacArthur. They changed their plans and landed on Leyte on October 20.’’ Asked whether General MacArthur or the fleet would arrive at Tokio first, Admiral Halsey grinned and replied: ‘ 4 We are going together. ’ * CHINA COAST GARRISONS Referring to the Japanese attempts to establish land routes to their southern conquests, Admiral Halsey said: “The enemy garrisons along the China coast are like all other rats. When we want to we can dig them out.’’ He said he thought the conquest of Iwo Jima would be tough, but not as costly as Tarawa. “We have learned a lot since then,’* he said. “Iwo Jima will be of tremendous strategic value.’’ Discussing Japanese planes, Admiral Halsey said: “The Japanese air force is not in good shape. Every time they come out they bring a ragtag and bobtail lot of planes.” THEY STILL BURN Asked if the new Japanese types were better, he replied: “We play around with them and shoot them down like the others. Sure their new planes are better, but they burn just as nicely as the old ones.” Admiral Halsey said he is one of the few who believe the Japanese will break eventually. He pointed out that the J apanese industrialists can see their empire crumbling. A dollar means as much to them as to anyone. He predicted that when the industrialists get the upper hand of the army they will put out peace feelers. “That will be our most dangerous threat until peace is actually declared,” he said, “for if we allow a negotiated peace now and don’t demand absolute and unconditional surrender, it would be the greatest crime in the history of our country. MUST KEEP FLEET “The Press can do more to help than anyone by persuading American par-

ents that such a move would be sentencing their grandsons to death. ’ ’ Asked if the Japanese would plan another war even if unconditional surrender were exacted, Admiral Halsey replied: “Not if we are smart. We must make plans for the future, and enforce them, so they can’t start another war. Whatever happens to the World League, we had better keep our fleet.”