Evening star., 1945-12-30
Pear Haroor Inquiry
To Reopen Tomorrow
With Stark Testifying
BY J. A. OLEARY and CARTER
BROOKE JONES.

Admiral Harold r. Stark, retired
will testify when the Pearl Harbol
Committee reconvenes, at 10 am. to.
morrow after a 9-day recess, during
which no l1eadway was made to.
ward obtaining a new legal staff.
1t will be Admiral Stark's first op.
portunity to defend publicly his
record as Chief of Naval Operations
in 1941. The Navy Court of In.
quiry, in one of the earlier Pear
Harbor Investigations, criticized him
for not sending more information t6
Rear Admiral Husband E. Kimmel
Pacific Fleet Commander, between
November 26 and December T.. the
day the Japanese attacked.
The present legal staff, headed by
former Attorney General William D
Mitchell, Is expected to remain dur
ing the examination of Admira
Stark, but beyond that point the
course OF the investigation was un.
determined last night.
Ferguson Favors Recess.
Senator Ferguson, Republican, oi
Michigan, said yesterday he favor,
recess while new legal aides are
being selected and given a chance
to familiarize themselves with the
case. The Senator believes tims
would be saved in the end if the
committee could get the services OF
one or more trained investigators
and put them to work analyzing the
mass of documents already in the
record or remaining to be intro
duced.
| Senator Ferguson said fewer ques-
tions would have to be put to wit.
nesses in the open hearings If such
an analysis was available, tying to-
gether different exhibits that bear
direct relation to one another.
Il am in favor of speed" said
Senator Ferguson, but this time
the people must feel that they have
the whole story
Eight Previous Inquiries.
The Senator said there have been
eight previous Pearl Harbor inquir-
les, including three by the Army
three by Navy sources, one by the
late Secretary of the Navy Knox
and one by the Roberts commission
appointed Immediately after the
attack occurred.
One of the first questions await.
ing a decision by the Pearl Harbol
Committee this week is whether Il
hear Admiral Kimmel and Mai
Gen. Walter c. Short, the Hawaiian
commanders in 194l, soon, or a.
the end of the inquiry.
Senator Ferguson indicated las
night he doubts the wisdom of call.
ing these two key witnesses in thu
middle of the inquiry. He mad,
it clear he is not opposed to hear.
ing them at any time, but pointec
out that If either or both of then
testify now, they may have to bt
called again at the end to answer
subsequent testimony.
In any event, the testimony ot
Gen. Short will have to await hi.
recovery from an illness that sem
him to Walter Reed Hospital a week
ago.
Gearhart Urges Speed.
Representative Gearhart, Repub-
lican, OF California. advocated
speedy completion of the investiga.
tion yesterday. Asked if he thought
it could be finished by February IS
the new deadline recently set by
the House and Senate, he replied
Il am going to strive to gel
Through by January 81"
Although several names have been
suggested for chief counsel to sue
ceed Mr.. Mitchell, the subcommit-
tee appointed to make recommen-
dation had no opportunity to meet
during Christmas week. - s@ - -
Gen. Short may be strong enough
to leave the hospital within a few
days, it was indicated YESTERDAY.