The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-12-06
Pearl Harbor

CONTINUED from Page One)
| Frankly. I do not see any landing
threat in the Hawaiian Islands "a
long as We have air superiority.
/ Marshall added that the fullest
/ protection OF the fleet is THE
rather than A major consideration
/ for us"
The chief OF stan said he would
| do all he could TO strengthen air
l protection In Hawaii and was look
/ ing into the possibility OF getting
| barrage balloons from England
Shcrt wrote Marshall a lengthy
letter Feb. 10 outlining conditions
he found and saying he was taking
steps, among other things. for.
~ Cooperation with Navy.
-, Dispersion and protection Of
aircraft and OF the repair. mainten.
ance and servicinE Of aircraft
g. Improvement OF the Harbor
defense artillery"
on March :, Marshall asked for
early review" OF the situation On
defense from air attack. He told
short that establishing a satlsfac-
tory. system OF Coordinating all
available means rs a matter OF first
priority"
Short replied that one Of the first
projects he had investigated was
the aircraft warning service which
! believe is vital to defense OF these
islands.
He said the National Park Ser.
vice was making certain restric-
tions on use OF its lands and he
thought the Secretary Of War
(Stimson) ought to take it up di.
rectly with he Secretary OF the In.
terror Gckes).
Defense OF these islands AMI
adequate warning for the United
States fleet is so dependent upon
the early completion OF this air
craft warning service that believe
all qufbbling over details should
be stopped at once" Short added.
The Hawaiian commander got
back a letter Marchl5 signed by
Gen. William Dryden in the absence
OF Marshall, which said Park Ser.
vice officials ARE willing to give
us the temporary use OF their lands
when other lands are not suitable
for the purpose" but would not
waive a requirement that all build
ing plans be submitted to them.
AS IL developed no permanent
radar stations had been construct
cd months later when the japanese
attacked.
Over the months, Short was
Pressing continually for more
equipment and funds His letters
stressed, too, a need for more air
fields and protective revetments.
ION all fields" he said on March
Is, the planes have been kept
lined upon the field here they
would suffer terrific loss"
Short told his commander MAY
that the Navy apparently was
getting funds without submitting
detailed estimates and hence had
been able to accumulate required
materials and almost corner the
local labor market.
II was disclosed that the 1910
alert, while Heron commanded
Army forces in Hawaii. was order.
ed because the War Department
suspected Japan was timing a set
Element OF differences with Russia
so as to Undertake a raid against
Oahu.
on Jun II. the War Department
ordered an alert OF the complete
defensive organization to deal with
possible trans-Pacifc raid It
suggested this be done on man
euver basis" to avoid creating pub
lie hysteria".
Heron was told June 10 he
might modify his measures but
adequate guards on a semiper-
manent basis viii be maintained at
all critical points
General c. Marshall testified to-
day that early in 1871 he decided
TO rob practically all combat pur-
suit squadrons In the United States
of most Of their P-36 p'anes' for
the defense OF Hawaii.
Marshall. then chief OF staff of
the Army. also told COMPRESSION
al committee investigating the ia
panese attack on Pearl Harbor four
years ago that he knew Of no com
mitment by President Roosevelt
for the United States TO go to war