The Ypsilanti daily press., 1943-07-06
Observations
U. S. Ghost Fleet
Haunts japanese
in Pacific
BY Charles p. Stewart


Washington-A powerful 'ehos'
fleet" comprised OF American war
ships that have been sunk or To-
ported sunk by the enemy since
the Pearl Harbor attack are be-
ginning 10 plague the japanese high
command and undoubtedly are
proving a source OF embarrassment
TO Nipponese radio commentators.
There is nothing supernatural
however. about the vessels. and
their crews are red.blooded Ameri-
can youths who are itching 10 take
another crack AT the so-Cailed in.
Nincible" japanese feet.
American warships in this cur
ious category are either new YES
sells named in honor OF ships that
were sunk. or combatant craft
that were badly damaged and re-
ported sunk by the enemy but
reached port and have been Ie-
paired.
Thus the United States and the
world some day Will read again
about the exploits OF aircraft car
riers named the Lexington, York
town and Hornet, powerful ne"
successors To fghting ships that
we're sunk in the early days OF the
war when America was STRIVING
desperately 10 check the Japs.
japanese propaganda broadcast
. ers should nave 4 difficult time tell
ing the world again some day thal
our powerful fleet has destroyed
the American aircraft carrier Lex
ingtOn.'
This is especially true OF the
Lex" because the Jap high COM
mand on three different occasions
claimed they sank the ship before
she actually was destroyed in the
Battle OF the Coral sea in May,
1912.
shortly after the Lexington was
sunk. Secretary OF the Navy Frank
Knox renamed a carrier under con
struction in honor OF that vessel
and the new ship probably is ply
ing the Pacific waters in search Of
the Jsps
Tn. same procedure<was follow
ed in the cases OF the carriers
Hornet and Yorktown. New ships
bearing those names should he
with the feet or nearly ready to
join.
The name Hornet Is particularly
abhorrent 10 the Jsps because it
was from her flight deck that Mai.
Gen. James (Jimmy) Doolittle's
intrepid Army pilots took on in
twin-engined bombers for the first
bonn bing OF Tokyo in April, 1912.
That was merely one OF many
exploits in which the Hornet par-
ticipated. Even when she finally
was sunk during the battle OF Santa
Cruz in October. 1912, her planes
helped infict heavy damage on
at least one enemy battteship,
three carriers and Ave cruisers.
In the Battle OF Midway, the
old Yorktown and her planes help
ed smash a japanese invasion ar
msda of so ships.
Even more spectacular are the
records OF warships like the carrier
Enterprise, the cruisers Marble
head. Boise, San Francisco and
others which were damaged in bat
tie and which the Japs believed
they had sunk, but which returned
10 the battle line after being re-
paired
The Marblehead truly is ghost
ship" TO the Japs. She was re-
ported sunk three times in the
Java Sea and Indian Ocean In the
early days OF the war.
Even Official quarters in Wash
ington for a time thought perhaps
the warship was gone. However,
she eventually turned up in an
east coast port a floating wreck
after a gruelling journey half way
around the world She was back
on duty a few months later.
In the front line OF this ghost
fleet can be counted six Of the
eight battleships that the Japs be-
lieved they had destroyed during
the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor,
Dec. Z. 1871.
On the first anniversary OF the
attack. Secretary Knox reported
that at least three OF the de.
stroyed" battleships had returned
TO the feet and others undoubtedly
have been rehtted since then.
All badly damaged in the attack,
the list consists OF the California.
Nevada, West Virginia. Pennsyl-
vania, Maryland and Tennessee
Even the Oklahoma which was cap
sized, has been rsfoeied and may
fight again some day.
Among Other ships actually sunk
whose names have been given
10 new and more powerful vessels
are the cruisers Astoria. Atlanta.
Chicago, Juneau. Houston. North
smpton, Quincy and Vincennes.
There are others. including de.
stroyers and small craft. too mum.
erous 10 mention.