[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Some people wanted Halsey court-martialed for his role in this disaster. He was supposed to be guarding the northern approach, but had gone off chasing a Japanese diversionary force. Just as he was finishing off the last ships in the diversionary force, this attacked occurred and he was too far away to assist immediately. If Halsey had followed orders, the Japanese Center Force would have been destroyed by Halsey's Third Fleet and this entire engagement would have been a footnote to invasion of the Philippines.

TURKEY TROTS TO WATER GG FROM CINCPAC ACTION COM THIRD FLEET INFO COMINCH CTF SEVENTY-SEVEN X WHERE IS RPT WHERE IS TASK FORCE THIRTY FOUR RR THE WORLD WONDERS

[Jacquerie]

It has never been wise to punish battle commanders for mistakes in judgment. Few men will risk their necks if they suspect they'll have to fight two enemies.