Testimony
of William F. Halsey, Jr., Admiral, USN
8. Q. During the latter half of 1941, what did you consider the primary
mission of the Pacific Fleet?
A. To prepare for war against Japan.
* * *
19. Q. During 1941, what was your estimate as to the suitability of basing
the Fleet at Pearl Harbor rather than on the West Coast of the United States?
A. Based on the fact that I thought that the Japs would strike without
declaration of war, I thought the closer we had the Fleet to the Japanese the
better off we were. I believed that Pearl Harbor was the second best place and
Manila the first place.