Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-10-31
This War Will Be Won or Lost in the Pacific

SoIomons Campaign Inquiry
ANGRY reaction has developed Congress- and through
a nation both the results In the Soomons
campaign and the conduct of that campaign
The results only known in the terms of our
losses which have been heavy and tardly reported
The conduct of the campaign has been brought into serious
question by sudden shift in the top naval command and by
open suggestions of lack of naval and military coordination
All this led demands for thorough investigation and
public airing of the situation preferably by the Truman sub
committee of the United States Senatea group which
has previously performed notable services IN other uddied
phases of the program
1t be hoped such investigation will be conducted by
this equally competent and authoritative committee of
Congress.
Only Congress possesses the nvestgave powers necessary
for adequate investigation
The people whole have facilities for investigation,
and inadequate information about the serious matters in
vd and have fact been deliberately and purposey kept
almost wholly uninformed about these matters.
Congress has the essential facts, get them.
1t summon and question responsible authorities
1t determine the degree and of failure and decide
if lack of military and naval coordination has indeed caused
unnecessary losses and insist upon obtain correction
THIS whole matter which the American people have
i vital interest and grave concern.
would be thing defeats and losses in the Solo
strictly military defeats and fosseshat the result
of being outnumbered outfought in a given area.
entirely different thing if they the result of
ineffective command leadership the change in top naval
command in mid-campaign suggests.
1t also entirely different thing if the failure of the
and to achieve maximum cooperation with each
other has been actoand that has been onted suggested
compelling and unacceptable duty of Congress to
learn and disclose the exact truth about this situation
If is true members of Congress reported to believe
and be saying that IAN ogarchy of aging admra running
navy and least by inference responsible for costly and
unnecessary losses in the Soomons of remedy is in
order and imperative.
true as Representative Costello of California says
that through lack of information given the immense Pacific
clash is becoming unknown war; the need for Qualification
is clear
There can be no disagreement with Mr. Costello that
Friendly rivalry between and would be all right
but when actual jealousy disaster best
efforts
The people not interested in whether it
plane plane that sank Jap shphey only that
the ship went to the bottom.
"AbOve all things this effort of calls for unity
Give that and we will achieve the rest"
Z YER since the start of this the administrators of the
Il American effort have been calling for unity the people,
They have had that from the beginning have now and
will always have it.
But parallel requirement for victory unity of command
and of action and the suspicion strong and the evidence
convincing that this has not been achieved
Congress should certainly make full inquiry into this matter
1t should be diverted by the protest raised
that investigation is obstruction"
The American people entitled the essential facts about
this They entitled to full accounting by the admins
traitors of the They providing ample manpower win