Evening star., 1945-08-29

and that an attack in the Hawaiian
area might be expected soon"
The court Of inquiry said that 1t
was of the opinion that had this
important information been con-
veyed to Admiral Kimmel, it is a
matter of conjecture as to what
action he would have taken"
The Navy report disclosed that in
January, 1941, officials thought that
"in case Of war with Japan hostili-
ties might be initiated by surprise
attack on the fleet or on the naval
base at Pearl Harbor.
Steps were taken Immediately to
prepare defenses against prospec-
tive sources of attack and it was
decided that security against air
bombing and air torpedo plane as
sault was all that was needed, all
other factors in the defense system
being satisfactory.
1t is fact, the report said. that
through 1941 the demand for mu-
nitions and war supplies exceeded
the capacity of the Nation and that
there were marked deficiencies in
trained personnel and material
equipment in all commands.
Data Inadequately Exchanged.
Although shortages were in
evitible," it added, "it is a further
| fact that they had direct bearing
upon the effectiveness upon the de-
tense Of Pearl Harbor"
| In the Army report, stress was laid
on the close personal association
between Admiral Kimmel and Gen.
Short and in his statement, Secre-
tary of War Stimson said that while
these officers were on friendly terms
and in frequent communication,
"the exchange of information as well
as consultation in other respects at
Hawaii between Army and Navy was
inadequate"
The Navy report said Japan knew
the United States Pacific Fleet was
numerically inferior to japanese
naval forces in both combatant and
auxiliary vessels and early sensed
the advantage of striking before
vigorous steps being taken by the
United States to remedy these de-
feciencies could become effective"
Forced to Appeasement.
The topography of the territory
the Navy report said, was partic-
ularly suited to the observation OF
Pearl Harbor and its activities and
it was impossible for American
authorities to prevent any one from
obtaining military information.
And because of legal restrictions
imposed by the Federal statutes
they could lot interfere with the
mails and transmission of messages
by radio, telegraph and cable" the
report added,
In addition, the report continued
having in mind Japan's traditiona
tendency to dStort legitimate ac.
tions of peaceful nation into de.
liberate threats to her own securit,
and prestige, the War and Navy
departments were impelled to take
every precaution to avoid offending
her "supersensitive sensibilities."
AS late as October l6, 194l, the re.
port brought out, Admiral Stark di.
rected Admiral Kimmel to take
such preparatory deployments a.
will not constitute provocative &C.
ton against Japan" and on Novem.
Der % the War Department directed
Gen. Short to undertake no often.
sive action until Japan has commit.
ted an overt act"
1T is fact that the superiority
of the Japanese feet and the ability
of Japan to obtain military anc
naval information gave her an ini.
tial advantage not obtainable by the
United States up to December 7
l941," the report said.
Ordered Sinking of Subs.
Admiral Kimmel. the Navy report
said, recognizing the potentialitie:
OF the submarine as an instrument
OF stealthy attack, and believing
japanese submarines were operating
in Hawaiian waters, was of the
opinion that this form of surprise
attack against his feet was the one
most likely to be employed by Japan
Therefore, he had issued, on hi.
own responsibility, orders that al
Unidentified submarines discovered
IN Hawaiian waters we're to be
depth charged and sunk. In so do.
ing he exceeded his orders from
higher authority and ran the risl
OF committing an overt act agains
Japan, the report said, but did 81
feeling that it is best to follow tht
rule shoot first and explain after.
wards"
! Actually, the report said, in exc.
: cution of these orders, a midget sub.
marine was discovered in an oper.
ating area, attacked and destroyed
by the combined efforts of nava
patrol plane and a destroyer of tn,
: inshore patrol, about an hour before
the main air attack December 7
There was nothing, however. in tn,
presence of a single submarine il
the vicinity of Oahu to indicate tina
an air attack on Pearl Harbor wa
imminent.
1t is fact that the precaution
taken by Admiral Kimmel for tn
security of his fleet while at Sc,
: were adequate and effective, the re
port declared No naval units wer
either surprised or damaged Will
: operating at sea in the Pacific prio
to Oh on December 7.
On the morning of December
considerably more than half of tn
naval personnel were on board thei
ships in Pearl HaYbor, more thai
ample to meet an emergency il
port, the Navy report said. Thei
efficiency "and their heroic behavio
on that day are proof of their fitnes
for duty ="
Existing fleet orders provide.
for the establishment of air de
|