Evening star., 1942-03-11
Hart
Continued From First Page

of the Royal Navy, described by
Admiral Hart as one of the best.
8 The statement said that while
Admiral Phillips venture in taking
to the sea with those two ships
under the conditions which pre-
vailed had been criticized, it was
now apparent in the light of the
final outcome Of the land campaign
in Malaga that Admiral Phillips
took the only course which could
have saved Singapore.
The Hart statement said that the
final salient feature of this cam
paign is that while the enemy has
won 1t and captured much territory,
the extra expenditures have been
high. He said the results of activi-
ties of the United States Navy had
been estimated fairly accurately
and that. though conservative, can
not be far from the ruth. Navy
figures show 1873 japanese vessels
sunk or damaged by the Army and
Navy This includes AZ combat
ships)
In detailing the losses of the en-
emy, Admiral Harris statement ad-
mitted that the Allies also have had
losses. With the exception, however,
q the Repulse and the Prince of
Wales. they are not serious from a
comparative standpoint, the state
ment said.
Submarine Work Praised.
In his verbal discussion Of Japa-
nese losses, Admiral Hart praised
particularly the American subma-
rine force and said that unfortu-
nately they had to work so fast that
sometimes they were unable to
watch for results after they pulled
the trigger"
Asked to elaborate on the sub
marine warfare, Admiral Hart de-
scribed the activities of one captain
whom he termed the envy of all his
fellows. He looked in on an anchor
age and found two japanese ships
one very good one quite good
lying placidly at anchor.
The submarine captain went into
position, carefully took aim and was
able to remain long enough to watch
the two ships turn over on their
sides with "Japs jumping every
which way" Admiral Hart added
to his tribute TO the submarine men
by saying that they kept to sea
over periods supposed to be beyond
endurance of humans in tropical
waters
Admiral Harts statement pointed
out that the Nays plans were upset
early by the loss of bases considered
reasonably secure.
King Favors Offense.
Admiral Ernest J. King. NAVY
commander in chief who also at
tended the conference, said that he
was in complete agreement with the
title of book, newly published.
which he quoted as Defense Will
Not Win This War
Saying he did not mean he sub
scribed to the contents of the book.
which he has not read. Admiral
King declared that he did sub
scribe to the title. but made it
clear that before offensive opera
tlons are undertaken on a grand
scale you've got to have more ships,
more guns, more everything
Secretary Knox started the con-
ference with an announcement that
hereafter disclosure of the Sinkings
of merchant ships will be made
without giving the names of the
ships They will be described as
merchant ships of large. nedidm or
small type, as the case may be-" the
Secretary said.
This policy is being adopted, he
declared, to withhold valuable in
formation from the enemy.
Mr.. Knox said the Navy had been
accused of withholding information
especially in connection with a Jap
anese announcement that Ameri-
can planes had bombed Marcus
Island. He said the Navy has no
reliable information in Washington
on such an attack and that until
the information Is received the
Navy is unable to make any COM
ment on the reports. He pointed out
that whatever ships were involved
In such actions at such great dis
tances from this country naturally
were proceeding with silent radios
and could not broadcast details to
the United States without reveal
ing their position.