The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-11-17
On the Spot Probers Try to Tie Pacific Alert Notes With Dec. 7Attack
By United Press

was that only one got in. He added that there was some evidence to support a supposition that second one got in but my people do not think there was more than one"
 Cleavage in Services
 Rep. Prank B. Keefe, R., Wis, said he understood that two Jap anese officers from the captured Japanese subs were taken by the Army. He observed that there seemed to be such a sharp cleav- age" between the two services that Ferguson could better question Thielen.
 Chairman Alben w. Barkley de- manded sharply that the witness be given a chance to reply before fur ther questions were asked
 "As I understand it then, we're getting the opinions of his re- searchers who don't come up here" Ferguson observed at one point.
 That was after Inglis said his re- searchers had concluded tn at drunkenness had nothing to do with" the state of alertness on bat tleships in the harbor that morn ing.
 Quarter of Batteries AIerted
 Asked about anti-aircraft de- lenses, Inglis said one-quarter of the anti-aircraft batteries were alerted at the time of the attack. Ferguson completed his examin- ation and Rep. Bertrand w. Gear hart, R., Cal, took over.
 Gearhart wanted to know if Thie- len were referring to the radar picked as a "practicing event. in order to "belittle it." T'hielen said he did not use that term.
 Gearhart read from past testi- mony in other Investigations of It. Joseph L. Lockhart one of two sol- diers who recorded the approach Of Japanese planes.
 Noticed "Blip"
 Lockhart said he first noticed 8 "blip" on the radar scope a few minutes after a. m. He also said he and the second soldier had de- cided they might just as well stay inside and operate the detector while waiting for truck.
 Gearhart asked if the truck was not late to take the men to break fast. Thielen said he did not know. Gearhart then asked the source of his information about the radar operating hours. Thielen said he took 1t from Shorts testimony be- fore the Roberts commission.
 Thielerl remarked that Lockhart was a private then.
 Well. he was rather capable private" Gearhart observed
 Draws No Conclusions
 Gearhart asked if there was any thing significant in the fact that, according to orders, the radar equipment should have been turned off at a. m. and that at TOP the Japanese planes appeared.
 T draw no conclusion" Thielen said.
 c. Isn't it extremely significant? A. It might have been.
 c. Does 1t suggest that the Jap anese had knowledge of the orders under which these machines were operated2
 A. Not necessarily, sir, but 1t is a very definite possibility.
 e. Don't you think 1t is strangely significant that the Japanese planes flew into range of that machine just two minutes after 1t was supposed to be off the air? A. It might have been.
 Question Orders
 Gearhart asked IngliS if there were any orders from Washington not to fire on Japanese ships or in- stallations.
 T have no knowledge of such an order" Inglis replied.
 e. Do you know if orders issued by Admiral Husband E) Kim mel to the opposite effect? A. l have no personal knowledge Of such an order.
 I'll refer you to the naval board of inquiry-Admiral Kimmel acting on the theory he would act first and get authority later" Gearhart said. Inglis said his answer was pre- pared by researchers who probably would have read such things. He added that this was controversial and connected with fixing the re- sponsibility.'
 Quotes Author
 Gearheart next asked fl Inglis knew Cmdr. Clarence Earl Dickin- son, Jr.. flyer and author ot an article in the October 10, 1942, issue of the Saturday Evening Post. The article said tension had gripped the Pacific when Dickinson had sailed from Pearl Harbor Nov. 28, le4l with cargo of planes for Wake Island under absolute war or ders." , Dickinson, Gearhart continued, wrote that Adm. William F. Halsey had given instructions that secrecy be protected "at all costs" even to shooting down enemy planes and bombing anything we saw in the seas"
 Why all this surprise, when we were making war ourselves" Gear hart asked. - Barkley said that was "contro- versial and should be addressed to the committee rather than the w.t. ness"
 I'm addressing it to the coun- try" Gearhart said.
 'I have no doubt of that" Bark ley said. Gearhart, like Ferguson, asked where the Boise was at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack.
 Tn the Philippines" Inglis re- piled.
 Navy Has Answer Gearhart then wanted to know II the Boise had sighted the Jap at- tacking fleet in the first week oi December" Inglis said the Navy would try to supply the answer; ,,o,, Tn response to another question Inelis said he believed there was 2 general order at that time intruct- ing ships to maintain radio silence He added that he would "try to get that information, too"