GHORMLEY REPLACED

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 252, 26 October 1942, Page 5

GHORMLEY REPLACED

NO EXPLANATION GIVEN NOT AGGRESSIVE ENOUGH?

P.A. Gable.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 24.

The Navy Department has announced that Vice-Admiral William Halsey, Jnr., has been appointed to command the naval forces in the South Paciflc, relieving Vice-Admiral Ghormley. Admiral Ghormley's new duties Will be announced-at a later date. No explanation is given for the change. Admiral Halsey will report to Admiral Nimitz. The Associated Press of America says Admiral Halsey has wide experience. He was the leader of the raiding force on the Gilbert and Marshall Islands in January, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. Other charges are announced by the Navy Department. Vice-Admiral Herbert Leary, formerly commander of the naval forces in the southwest Paciflc, is appointed commander of a task force in place of Vice-Ad-miral William Pye, who becomes president of the Naval War College. Rear-Admiral Arthur C!arpen)ter is promoted Vice-Admiral and succeeds Admiral Leary in the south-west Paciflc. CHANGE TO OFFENSIVE. Observers associated with the navy, express the opinion that Admiral Ghormley's recall is rooted in the conduct of the Solomons operations, and they now anticipate that the defensive will be turned into aggression, says the Washington correspondent of the New York Times. Observers explain that the Solomons venture was atxfirst pictured as an unqualifled success, but the other side of the picture was bluntly evident with the belated revelation of the loss of three American and one Australian heavy cruisers. It is known that even this list is incomplete. The Herald-Tribune, commenting on the change in command, says that there is ample unofficial evidence of costly tactica! blunders in the Solomons which jeopardised the success of the first American offensive and awakened grave concern over the quality of leadership. There is room for doubt whether Admiral Ghormley was primarily responsible for the mistakes in the Solomons campaign, which is not concluded, or whether the fault lies in the peculiar and unfortunate division of the Paciflc command. The important fact is that the Navy Department's action has ap~ parently established the principle of accountability of commanding officers for success or failure. It is better to have disgruntley officers than massacred divisions and shattered fleets. Better have aggrieved officials than chaotic departments. The rule of accountability must be applied in every phase of the war. If Admiral Ghormley's fall marks a new departure in this direction, it may mean nothing short of the salvation of the Republic. The New York Times Honolulu correspondent says that the men of the Paciflc Fleet are delighted at the appointment of Admiral Halsey, who is known as a "rough, tough fighting man, the sort of leader men will follow right to hell and back." They recall that his audacity amazed the Japanese in the Marshall and Gilbert island*; action in January. Admiral Halsey is not a spit and polish officer who insists on strict observance of the regulations. He is more interested in how well his ships shoot and is not ashamed to wear carpet slippers on the bridge if his feet hurt.