Evening star., 1941-12-17
Pearl Harbor Board
Discusses Procedure
For Investigation
Knox and Stimson Attend
Hour-ond-HuIf Session;
StundIey Absent

NIOA OiIO StIIIISOI HttSuO
Hour-ond-HoIf Session;
StondIey Absent
The special board appointed by
President Roosevelt to inquire into
the circumstances which allowed
the Japanese to surprise our forces
at Hawaii held its first meeting to-
day-a session which lasted for an
hour and half in the Office of
Secretary of War Stimson.
Both Mr.. Stimson and Secretary
OF Navy Knox joined in the meeting
but at its conclusion none of the
members would make any comment.
Four of the five members named
by President Roosevelt late yester-
day were present. They were Maj.
Gen. Frank B. Mccoy, retired, now
head of the Foreign Policy Associ-
alton; Brig. Gen. Joseph P. Nc
Narney of the Army Air Force;
Rear Admiral Joseph M. Reeves, re-
tired, former commander in chief OF
the United States Fleet, and Su-
preme Court Justice Owen j. Rob-
erts. chairman of the investigating
board.
STANDBY Unable to Attend.
Admiral William H. Standley, re-
tired. former chief of naval opera
tions, was unable to attend, but will
be present at the next session, to be
held tomorrow, it was announced.
The meeting began at 10 am. and
was concluded at 11:30 N. News
paper photographers and reporters
who had waited for chance to see
members of the board were informed
that no pictures or interviews would
be allowed at this time.
Before the meeting began it was
indicated that it would be pre-
liminary session at which the
groundwork for the inquiry would
be laid. 1t was not indicated when
the group would leave for Hawaii.
AS the inquiry got under way
Navy officials revealed further in
stances of gallantry on the part OF
officers and men in Pearl Harbor
after the attack got under way, and
announced that the Navy had en-
listed 1903 men in the eight days
Immediately following the treach-
erous raid.
The heavy enlistment was hailed
by the Navy as "the response of the
Nations man power to the threat
against the Nation" The daily en-
listments rose from Monday, De-
cember s, to Monday, December Is
from 361 per day to 1880 per day.
New Cases of Heroism.
The record of heroism established
by the surprised Pearl Harbor gar
rison was added to by Secretary
Knox in a supplement to his frs
report on the Hawaiian action.
In one case, he said. four Nava
Reserve ensigns were the only sur.
viving officers on board one destroy
er, yet they took the ship to sea ir
pursuit of the enemy and. said Mr.
Knox. met all emergencies, operat.
ing the vessel like veterans.
The young Reserves had never
had such responsibility before, Mr.
Knox said in reporting their actor
under enemy fire.
Secretary Knox said that had the
attack taken place short time Later
it would have found hundreds oi
Navy men at divine services. Actual
ly it came a short time before
church call" and one chaplain was
killed while preparing his compart'
ment for services.
Other Incidents.
The Navy Secretary did not name
the ensigns nor the chaplain. HI
reported these other incidents:
Several men under treatment or
the hospital ship tried to rejoir
their regular vessels to get into thu
fight. They were held back by Of
ficers and nurses with difficulty, anc
a few did manage to escape the YES
sci and join fleet units.
"A number of women, many beint
wives of officers and men and ever
! in some cases women widowed by th'
attack, volunteered their services IL
the hospitals.
Ship handling was excellen
throughout the action, and amonl
destroyers working at high speet
and in close quarters, there we're m
collisions.
"A gun captain noticed powde
case had jammed in his gun. H
quickly obtained a hacksaw and Gu
of a section so the breach could b
closed. The gun continued in serv
ice throughout the action.
Work Amid Bombs.
"On q destroyer tender some spar
machine guns were broken out
These guns were speedily placed ol
top of deckhouses and welded int
place by welders, who carried o.
their work at the height OF the at
tack and amid a storm of bullets ant
bombs. All of these guns were in tn
final action.
Communications functioned per
fectly throughout the action. Al
though many lines we're cut b
shrapnel, communication with tn
mainland was maintained through
out. Men remained at their post
in radiorooms of some ships unit
the last"
The Navy will begin soon re
cruiting drive among the camps Q
the Civilian Conservation Corps,
was announced yesterday. The re
cruiting plan, worked out by Secre
tary Knox and J. J. McEntee, G.
C. director, is identical with the ar
rangement recently entered into b
the Navy and the National Yout
Administration.
c. C. C. enrollees who desire t
enlist in the Navy and who pass tn
enlistment requirements, will b
given honorable discharges from TN
! former organization.
Telegram Sent Shipbuilders.
Secretary Knox sent telegram
meanwhile, to principal ship-build
ers and manufacturing plants doin
work for the Navy in an effort t
arouse them as thoroughly as tf