The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-01-26

tIle mistake OF assuming that the
army was operating, its sound de-
tector devices "a hours a day. Both
assumptions proved costly to the
United States because both were
erroneous and the Pearl Harbor re-
port explained that neither Kimmel
nor Short had informed himself Of
the actual preparedness measures
of the other.
The administration already has
recognized the peculiar war necessi-
ties Of some areas by giving air
officers command of all army forces
in given theater. When Short was
relieved of duty on Dec. IT, the
air corps was given unusual recog-
milton in the appointment Of Lieut..
Gen. Delos C. Emmons, a flyer, to
succeed him. Similarly and consid-
erably before that date, Maj. Gen.
Frank M. Andrews, another air.
man, was given command of all
army forces in the Caribbean theater
which is responsible for defense of
the eastern approaches of the
Panama Canal.
There is considerable air corps
sentiment for command unification
with airmen in top spots. That is
based on an air corps conviction
which began to form during Brig.
Gen. William (Billy) Mitchell's diff
culties in the early 1905 that non
flyers never will learn to appreciate
airpower nor how properly to use it..
The gravity Of the charges and
the high rank of the men involved
put the decision on the disposition
of the charges up to President
Roosevelt. The White House an
nounced only that he was giving
the report careful consideration and
weighing the next action to be
taken.
Officials explained that the Rob-
G rts report, in itself, does not con-
Stitute formal charges for court
martial. Technically, they said, only
the president could order the court
martial of Short but either the pres
ident or the secretary of the navy
could take the necessary steps to
bring kiQmel to trial.
A presidential order for a court
martial, they said, would be accom-
panied by action to set up a trial
court, composed of military men,
and trial advocate to act as prose-
cutor Both men would be entitled to
counsel and presumably each would
be tried separately.
The president has summary DOW
err to dismiss any officer during
peacetime without a court martial,
they added, but it has never been
exercised and its status in time of
war is not clear.
The report generally was greeted
as a full and frank" document
which would give the American
people full confidence in their
leaders, but Sens. Gerald P. Nye,
r., N D., and C. Wayland Brooks,
r., ILL.,, suggested that further in
curry might be in order.
StimsOn Must Decide
washington, Jan. 26 - (U.PJ -
The White House indicated today
that further action concerning Ad-
miral Husband f. Kimmel and Lieu
tenant General Walter C. Short.
blamed in the Roberts report for
lack of American alertness against
the japanese attack at Pearl Harbor
will rest with Secretary of War
Henry L. Stimson and Secretary of
Navy Frank Knox.
Secretary Stephen IT. Early was
asked at a press conference whether
there was any White House action
pending in connection with the Ro-
berts report which charged Short
and Kimmel with "a dereliction of
duty"
They We're relieved OF command
weren't they?" Early replied They
still are relieved of command, aren't
they?"
Early was asked if it were not
true that the president could order
the court martial of the two Off
GERS. Any general officer of the arm
ed services could request his own
court martial "if he has any defense
and thinks he is right" Early re-
piled.
A reporter asked if the president
COllid bloiIiloo al OlAlSCl llOlll tllC
service.
Il don think it's done that way,
Early said. IF the judge advocate
general Of either the army or the
navy finds any charge in this report,
either the Secretary of War or Navy
can order a court-martial at the di-
rection of the president
He adttad that the term "by di-
rection of the president" was just a
form"
i don't know OF any action here"
Early said, "and the secretaries of
war and navy have copies OF the
Roberts report. They administer the
army and navy for the president
and each has his own judge advo-
cate general"