Evening star., 1945-12-19
Pearl Hurbor
Continued From First Page.)

aScendancy of the Axis was causing
grave concern. Dunkerque had just
been evacuated, France was about to
surrender and it looked as if the
Germans would capture the French
Fleet intact, further menacing the
South Atlantic.
Gen. Strong anticipated an Axis
movement into South America in
the event that Great Britain fell.
More Intercepts Shown.
Other high lights today were:
Senator Ferguson, Republican, of
Michigan said there is evidence that
a message sent by spies from Hcno-
lulu to Tokyo on December 3, 1941,
outlining a detailed system of sig
mailing out to sea by lights in the
windows of houses, was translated
in rough" form in Washington on
December 6, the day before the at
tack.
Committee Counsel William D.
Mitchell produced from Army files a
new batch of decoded messages, in
dicating that in April and May of
l941 the Japanese suspected the
United States was cracking" their
codes. AS Mr.. Mitchell had pointed
out, however, if the japanese did
anything about it, their efforts were
futile, as this country continued to
intercept and decode Jap communi-
cations UP to the attack, and there
after throughout the war.
The lights in the window" mes
sage was laid before the commit
tee. early in the investigation, but
carried a notation that it was not
translated by the Navy until De-
cember II, four days after the at
tack
Senator Ferguson said today that
In the separate Pearl Harbor in
vestigation made by Vice Admiral
Henry Hewitt, there was testimony
that a rough draft of the transla-
tion was made here on December 6.
In addition to the use of lights in
certain windows on Oahu Island, the
message outlined want ads to be
broadcast by radio as another meth
20 Ol SlSlldllIlS.
Ferguson Questions Wilkinson.
Senator Ferguson asked Admiral
Wilkinson whether this message
would have been called to his atten-
ton if it had been translated in
rough form on the afternoon of De-
cember 6, and placed on the desk of
Capt. Alvin D. Kramer. Admiral
Wilkinson said he had every reason
to believe it would have been called
to his attention. He had testified
earlier that he did not get this mes
sage until three or four days after
the attack.
Admiral Wilkinson told Senator
Ferguson that if he had seen the
message before the attack it would
have been another indication OF
japanese interest in the ships at
Pearl Harbor, but would not have
meant an attack was imminent"
Senator Ferguson inquired If it
would have prompted him to send
any further warnings to Hawaii.
The admiral said he doubted If
1t would, except possibly to tell them
that a new set of "last resort"
signals were being sent out for use
in case more rapid and direct
methods of communication were not
available.
Gen. Strong's letter said the head
of the Wars Plans Division thought
the most serious threat to America
in the early summer of 1910 was a
raid or sabotage against the Pam
anna Canal, which would close this
artery to navigation.
Two Messages From Grew.
A diversionary attack on Hawaii
could not be ruled out" in Gen.
Strong's opinion, since large part
of the fleet was based at Pearl
Harbor
Specific information obtained
from intelligence sources which
Gen. Strong listed included two
messages from Ambassador Joseph
c. Grew at Tokyo, describing in
terviews with Brazilian sailors and
information obtained from a
oTuHkeH CcfHan sailor at eureka,
Calf.
Senators Ferguson and Brewster,
Republican, of Maine asked Com
mittee Counsel Mitchell on Novem-
Der is to query the armed services
and other Government agencies to
find out if there was any evidence the
Japs suspected the United States
had broken their codes. Mr.. Mitchell
ADVISED them in memorandum
the next day that there was no such
evidence.
At the start Of today's hearing,
Mr.. Mitchell said that, in checking,
he finds he did not ask the Army
and Navy If they had any such mes
cages. but answered the two Sena-