The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-11-17

was explained by the "tense circum- stances which existed in world ai- fairs.
 The hearing recessed at l2:04 D. m. until 3 D. m, before Gearhart had completed his examination.
 The afternoon session began at POT D. m. with Inglis and Thielen still on the stand.
 Squabble Over Procedure
 The committee immediately began to squabble again over procedure. The Republicans expressed renewed dissatisfaction. Barkley again as- serted that the committee had ap- proved the plan of procedure.
 Sen. Scott w. Lucas. D., Ill, closed the argument with brief statement praising Mitchell for his handling of the hearing,
 Gearhart resumed questioning of the witnesses at 2:25 D. m.
 Gearhart wanted to know the effect of an order in May, l94l, transferring combat ships to the Atlantic.
 rACCb SAACS AohN
 Did it reduce the Pacific fleet -third?" he asked.
 Inglis replied that as of Dec. T. l941, the Pacific fleet was rough ly two-thirds" the size of the At lantic. Tn all, he said there were PA vessels in the Atlantic fleet, 64 in the Asiatic and l59 in the Pacific fleet.
 There were nine battleships in the Pacific fleet, six in the Atlantic, none in the Asiatic, he said. The Pacific fleet had 3 aircraft car riers, l2 heavy cruisers, 10 light cruisers and 54 destroyers, The Atlantic fleet had six battleships. 4 carriers, heavy cruisers, l2 light cruisers and 97 destroyers.
 Gearhart asked If American naval forces in the Pacific before May, l941, were stronger than the Japa- nese fleet. Inglis replied that the Navy would be very happy to get that information.
 When Gearhart rephrased the question Inglis said that the Japa- nese fleet was superior.
 Then although We were inferior, we still transferred the ships" Gearhart said. He asked the com- mittee counsel to get the transfer orders.
 Rep. Frank B. Keefe, R., Wis, started questioning the witnesses at 2:35 D. m. He asked them If their information was based entirely on hearsay" and research. Inglis and Thielen answered affirmatively.
 Dig Into Carrier Story
 Keefe started digging into the story of the carrier Enterprise which, escorted by cruisers and de- stroyers, was on her way from Wake Island to Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack. It had been talk ing planes to Wake.
 Was that a convoyp" he asked
 "It was task force" Inglis re- piled. There were no non-com- blatant ships in the group"
 When did she leave Wake?" asked Keefe.
 Inglis did not know, but said the log of the Enterprise probably could be obtained.
 Keefe asked if the Enterprise log would show what time and in what number scouting planes were sent up on Dec. 6 and '. Inglis said 1t would.
 Record in Archives
 Keefe said that IS scout planes left the Enterprise at a. m. on Dec. T. He said they left armed and equipped to fight. Inglis said they were to land at EVA field on Oahu.
 Keefe asked when action report of the Enterprise was, and Inglis said 1t was "in the archives and files of the Navy department"
 Keefe told Mitchell to see that 1t was made available. He then asked Inglis If the Enterprises records disclosed why the planes were sent up.
 Inglis said he was advised that the purpose given was houtlne training, but he didn't want Keefe to pin him down."
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