Pearl Harbor: The Seeds and Fruits of Infamy - Ludwig von Mises ...

708 Pearl Harbor: The Seeds and Fruits of Infamy
with a copy of its hearings, except for the TOP SECRET parts
concerning MAGIC. 93
Short was not a West Pointer; he had gone into the Army after
graduating from the University of Illinois in 1901. He served in
the Philippines and Alaska. From March 1916 to February 1917
he was in Mexico with the Pershing expedition, and he served
in France and Germany for two years during World War I. Back
in the States, he held various positions—on the Army general
staff and at Forts Leavenworth and Benning. He also held several
command positions, organizing and commanding Army brigades,
divisions, and corps, and directing soldiers and National Guard
troops in maneuvers. When he took over as commanding general
of the Hawaiian department on February 7, 1941, he was promoted
to lieutenant general. He served until after the December
7 attack, when he was relieved of his command (December 17).
When he retired on February 28, 1942, he was reduced to a major
general. 94
Like Kimmel, Short began his testimony before the JCC with
a lengthy prepared statement. His remarks paralleled Kimmel’s to
some extent in that he testifi ed that he had received neither the
equipment he had requested nor the information to which he, as
commanding general, felt he was entitled.
Short said he had had only a brief conference with Marshall
before he assumed command of the Hawaiian department.
Marshall had not then told him of any of “the probable dangers
in the Hawaiian Department” although he had written him “a
long letter on the day that I assumed command detailing his idea
of my mission.” 95 Marshall wrote on February 7, 1941:
93Ibid., part 7, pp. 2921–22, Short testimony.
94Ibid., pp. 2966–67, Short testimony.
95Ibid., p. 2967.