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Chapter 24 Hawaii I was ordered to the command of the Hawaiian Department, and my dear wife and I, accompanied by my two aides, Lieutenants Forster1 and Giles,2 left Camp Dix June 30, 1921. I was succeeded in command of the division by Major General David Shanks,3 who had commanded the port of embarkation at Hoboken, New Jersey, during the war. As soon as I left, he ordered all the records, photographs , and valuable documents in the offices of the Society of the First Division and the First Division Memorial Association destroyed . He then, I was told, stopped all these activities and spent his time playing golf. I assumed command of the Hawaiian Department August 5, 1921. I was fortunate in finding as chief of staff Colonel William Chamberlaine,4 a classmate whom I had always admired and who was one of the most loyal and capable officers in the army. Our baggage went with us, and we were soon settled in the spacious commanding general’s house at Fort Shafter. We at once secured a capable Japanese cook and his wife as servants. Colonel Chamberlaine assured me that we would never lack for servants, as the best spies would be supplied me. I have always thought that this cook was a Japanese officer of important rank as he was too artistic and intelligent to be a servant. We were careful never to have any papers or to discuss official matters at the house. Hawaii captivated us by its charm, and the social life began at once and continued throughout our stay. I began visiting the troops of the Hawaiian Division at Scho- field Barracks, the coast artillery in the fortifications, the air corps at Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, and the quartermaster’s depot. When I talked to the men, I sensed a lack of response and goodwill. The dress of officers and men was poor and the saluting and military bearing low. I held conferences with commanding officers and staffs every week. By orders and personal appeals, I tried to bring about a more soldierly dress and bearing and was soon successful. I ordered 178 THE WAY OF DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY a training program to bring the troops up to a high standard of ef- ficiency. I impressed on them that we were in the front line and must be ready for an attack by Japan at any time.5 Before leaving the States, I was told in Washington that the Japanese had considered an attack before the 1920 disarmament conference6 in Washington and that this, together with the unwillingness of England, which was in alliance with Japan, to finance such a war, caused Japan to delay. The G-2 [Intelligence] Section had much information on Japanese espionage. Japanese ships transporting oil, scrap, and supplies from the Pacific coast passed weekly with different crews and alternating calls at Honolulu and Hilo. There were no war plans, and the situation was tense. I directed Major Lesley J. McNair,7 the Operations Officer (G-3), and Major C. H. White,8 the assistant G-3, to seclude themselves and devote their entire time to the preparation of war plans. Commander Chester Nimitz9 of the navy was in command of the dozen old submarines in Pearl Harbor. I unofficially attached him to my staff, and he collaborated with Majors McNair and White. The study soon showed that the 15,000 troops in the command were woefully inadequate. It was found that at least 100,000 troops would be required to protect the potential landing places around Oahu. No effort was made to hold the other islands, as Pearl Harbor was the only strategic point to protect. The plan was for the army to defend Oahu. The navy was to seek the enemy’s fleet and defeat it without any responsibility for land defense. We learned privately from Washington that the navy planned to assemble the fleet in Hanalei Roads for operations. To us, this would expose the ships to attack by enemy submarines and was unthinkable. At that time, planes could not fly safely from Oahu to Kauai, a distance of one hundred miles.10 Our war plan provided for defending the perimeter of Oahu with machine guns and beach-defense 75-millimeter guns. The railway guns were located so as to reach enemy transports at anchor. The fixed defenses and twelve 240-millimeter howitzers in permanent positions were...

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