Evening star., 1942-01-29
House Unit Kills
New Inquiry on
Pearl Harbor
Proposal Defeated,
14-6; Stimson Bores
Unified Commands

ARA4VOSS ~ o0So SSAoyp W q WV
of IA to 6, to undertake a supple
mentary congressional inquiry
into the Pearl Harbor disaster.
The committees action followed
by only a short time a revelation by
Secretary of War Stimson that the
commander of the Pacific Fleet now
is in complete charge of all Hawaiian
defenses, land and sea, es step in
the United States speeding unifica-
ton of commands for important
outposts and task forces.
Although expedited by the Pearl
Harbor disaster where the Army and
Navy commands were found not
to be collaborating. the efforts to
attain unity between land and sea
forces have been in progress, how
ever, since Britain's loss of Crete
dramatized its necessity, Secretary
Stimson told a press conference.
Commanders Listed.
Admiral Chester w. Nimitz now
is in charge at Hawaii.
In the Panama Canal Zone, 1t.
Gen. Frank NJ. Andrews of the Army
Air Force is in command, with some
naval forces under him.
In other areas of the Caribbean,
however, Secretary Stimson disclosed
the. Atlantic Fleet commander was
in general charge In the Far East
all forces of the United Nations are
headed by British Gen. Sir Archi-
bald Wavell.
These are only certain examples"
Mr.. Stimson said, in refusing to
comment on any other phases OF
this policy affecting either Amer
lean or United Nations forces in
other combat zones.
The Secretary refused to discuss
various phases of the Pearl Harbor
report.
Gen. Shorts Case Studied.
Asked what the War Department
intended doing in the case Of 1t.
Gen. Walter c. Short, who was re-
lieved from the command OF the
Hawaiian Army forces, he said. Il
can only say that this matter has
been under careful study and con-
sideration. Gen. Short is now at his
home awaiting further orders"
CThe Department announced
that Maj. Gen. Frederick l.. Mar
tin, who had commanded the
Air Force in Hawaii, had been
reassigned to the important post
of commanding general OF the
Second Air Force at Fort George
Wright, Washington
Mr.. Stimson refused also to dis
cuss questions raised in the Pearl
Harbor report implying failure on
the part of Army and Navy officials
here to check with the Hawaiian
commanders to see if the proper
defense precautions had been taken
against surprise attack.
The House committee vote on the
Pearl Harbor probe came on a
motion to request the documentary
evidence collected by the Presidents
special commission.
vinson Withholds Comment.
This means no investigation at
this time, by this committee" de-
clared Representative Mas, Re-
publican, of Minnesota, ranking Re-
publican member of the committee.
Chairman Vinson refused to elab-
crate on the announcement beyond
saying that the motion had been
tabled by a 14-to-6 vote.
On the Senate side of the Capitol
meanwhile, criticism arose because
no reinforcementS have been sent
to Gen. Douglas MacArthurs be-
leaguered forces in the Philippines,
so far as is publicly known.
Secretary Stimson touched on this
topic today also. Asked whether
Gen. Macarthur had received any
reinforcements in planes or ships
since the Japanese invasion of the
Philippines, he said: Would you
like to have that news go to the
Japanese?"
He did say, however, that rein
forcements to the Pacific South
west area are going on" The motor
torpedo boats which have figured in
spectacular exploits in Subic Bay
belonged to Gen. MacArthur's orig
inal equipment, he added.
Second Committee May Act.
Chairman May was on record as
saying the House Military Affairs
Committee might study conditions
at Pearl Harbor, but would wait
until President Roosevelt or the
War Department had time to act.
CAS- commander in chief of our
armed forces" Representative May
said, "the President may. if he be-
lieves the facts in the Roberts re-
port justify it, dismiss those respon-
sible for what happened at Pearl
Harbor. He may, if he wishes, turn
the report over to the War and
Navy Departments and request
courts A third possibility
is that the officers accused of negli-
gence may themselves seek court
martial so they can present their
side of the case if they wish"
In the event none of those posi-
bilities develops, the Kentuckian
said, Il believe our committee
should make an investigation of the
military end of the situation"
Clark Urges Aid for Macarthur.
Talking to reporters concerning
reinforcements for the Philippines,
Senator Clark, Democrat, of Mis-
souri, said he was nettled that Amer
ican equipment seemed to be going
in large part to Europe instead of
toward the Southwest Pacific.
"It must have been a great source
of comfort to Gen. Macarthur to
hear Churchill announce to the
House of Commons that we have
plenty of bombers to send over Ger
many" he said with irony. I'VE
ought to get some of those bombers
out to the Philippines"
There was some criticism also Of
the transfer of American troops to
Northern Ireland, but Senator
Chandler, Democrat, Of Kentucky
said no one ought to assume that
this action precluded the early boil
stering of forces of the United Ma