Evening star., 1942-01-26
Demands Grow
For Action on
Pearl Harbor
Congress Members
Ask Expulsion Of
Incompetents
BY the Associated Press.

pulsion of any 'incompetentS"
holding responsible positions in
the war effort and for courts
martial to mete out punishment
on those responsible for the de-
bacle of Pearl Harbor.
A furore of rare bitterness on both
sides of Capitol Hill followed the
week end report of a presidential
investigating commission, blaming
non-co-operation and "dereliction
of duty" by Hawaii area commanders
of the Army and Navy for success Of
the Japanese sneak attack on the
great Pacific naval base
Many Senators and Representa-
tives asserted that the commission's
conclusions pointed to a pressing
need for super-command with
control over the operations of both
armed services.
Officials Here Exonorated.
Although the investigating COM
mission decided that the Secretaries
of State, War and Navy, as well as
the Army chief of staff and chief of
naval operations, had fulfilled their
obligations" some Congress members
professed to find fault with pro-
visions made here for Hawaii's de-
fense.
The five man commission, headed
by Associate Justice Owen j. Rob-
erts of the Supreme Court, re-
ported to President Roosevelt that
errors of judgment" by Lit. Gen.
Walter c. Short, commander of the
Army'S Hawaiian Department, and
Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, COM
mander Of the Pacific Fleet and
commander in chief of the whole
Fleet, were the effective causes for
the success of the attack"
1t concluded that the two officers
had shown "a lack of appreciation
of the responsibilities vested in
them," especially since each had
been warned by his superiors in
Washington that relations with
Japan were critical.
Asked what action was likely now.
Presidential Secretary Stephen Early
told reporters:
Il don't know what action there
is to be taken"
Procedure in Doubt.
On the question of court-martial,
he said it was his recollection that
any general officer might request
one if he thought he had case.
Responding to a remark that the
President might dismiss officers II
he felt it justified. Mr. Early said
he did not think 1T is done that
way"
The Secretary of War or Navy
could order a court-martial by the
direction of the President, he said,
but the phase by the direction of
the President" is only a formality.
Mr.. Early said that Mr.. ROose-
welt, to his knowledge, had not yet
discussed the Roberts report with
his War and Navy Secretaries.
The presidential secretary suggest
ed that the. people who know the
answer be asked a question whether
1Cll. anu IAAlllllC2
could continue to draw pay and
hold rank.
Chairman Walsh of the Senate
Naval Affairs Committee said that
it appeared from the report that
both Secretaries Stimson and Knox
feared early in 1941 what actually
happened on December ~ and that
lin view of their apprehenhions'
these inquiries present themselves:
First: What steps were taken to
increase and strengthen the Army.
the Navy and the air force at
Hawaii and in the Pacific after jan
uary. 1941?
Second: Is it fact that the op-
posite course was taken, and ships
were actually moved from the Pa
cific to the Atlantic and that prac-
ticallv no increases were made in
the Army and Air Corps defenSes?'
"It would appear in the absence
nothing was done to change the sit
uation in the Pacific" Senator
Walsh's statement continued. IF
the Army and the Navy had been
materially strengthened during this
time, it might not necessarily have
prevented the dereliction of duty
that the board finds, but it would
have given notice to the Army and
Navy that the Government at Wash
ington was preparing a strong, de-
termined, fighting defense"
Brooks Raises Question.
Similarly Senator Brooks, Repub-
lican, of Illinois demanded why Sec
retaries Stimson and Knox con-
sented to the sending of our mill
tary and naval equipment to other
countries and other parts of the
world when they knew war with
Japan was inevitable and our most
important outpost was inadequately
supplied with personnel, material
and equipment to put it on a war
footing as stated in Justice Roberts
report"
Senator La Toilette, Progressive.
of Wisconsin told reporters the re-
port showed an "unconscionable
lack of cooperation" between the
Army and Navy commands that
ought to prompt Congress to thor
ough exploration of the advisability
of some consolidation in the defense
organization"
Senator La Toilette said it should
be noted, however, that the Inquiry
Board found United States forces at
Pearl Harbor did not have sufficient
material. That they were not sent
additional material might have led
the commanding officers to conclude
that Washington authorities did not
expect an air attack on Pearl Har-
Dor and this may have contributed
to their "complacency," Senator Ia
Toilette said, adding:
"I don't think you can overlook
the fact that some of the RESPONSE
bility for this thing was right here
in Washington"
Setup Called Antiquated.
A House member, Representative
OToole, Democrat, of New York,
asserting that the report showed