Evening star., 1945-11-18
Japs Gave Attack Signal Dec. s.
But Were Ready to Call It Off
If Talks Succeeded Hearing Told
Admiral IngIis
Explains Receipt
Of New Dutu
BY J. A. OLEARY and
CARTER BROOKE JONES.

The signal that started the
attack on Pearl Harbor was q
code message, reading, "Climt
Mt. Niitaka," radioed to the jap
anese task force at sea on De-
cernber 6. Tokyo time December
S, Washington time), the Con-
gressional Investigating Com
mittee was told yesterday.
The committee also was informed
that the japanese were prepared
to call off the attack if diplomatic
negotiations in Washington had
succeeded.
Rear Admiral T. B. Inglis, chief
OF Naval Intelligence, revealed the
signal while unfolding the Japanese
version Of the attack, as gathered
from Japanese documents and in
terrogation of prisoners. He ex-
planned it was from new informa-
ton received Friday night.
When the committee reconvenes
at 10 am. tomorrow, it will cross
examine Admiral Inglis on the Jap
anese account of the attack, and
Senator Ferguson, Republican, of
Michigan, said last night he would
seek more information on the
Climb Mt. Niitaka" message.
Further Inquiry on Message.
IT am concerned greatly that
United States stations missed get
ting the message" Senator Fer
guson said. He added he would in
quire as to the form in which it
was sent.
Admiral Inglis told the committee
In his prepared statement yester-
day, however; that the problem OF
defeating United States radio intel
Lgence as the striking force moved
toward Hawaii was met ''by a pro-
gram Of deceptive traffic false as
sumption of call signs, padding of
circuits, etc. to simulate the pres
cence OF q striking force - in the
Inland Sea-"
I'm contrast" he said, mo effort
was made to mask the movements
or presence Of the naval forces
moving southwark, because physical
observations Of that movement were
unavoidable and the radio activity
of these forces would provide a
desirable semblance of normally"
Admiral Inglk explained that this
referred to other forces that were
moving toward French Indo-C China.
Questioned by Associate Commit
tee Counsel Gerhard Gesell, Admiral
Inglis said he understood the Climb
Mt. Niitaka" message came from
Tokyo, and that its receipt by the
Japanese force on December ia
pan time, was December 5 United
States time. The bombs began to
fall on Pearl Harbor December Z,
United States time. Representative
Keefe, Republican, of Wisconsin
brought out by questioning Admiral
Inglis that the Japanese ships were
probably 1000 miles away when they
got the final message to proceed to
the attack.
Brewster Accuses Inglis.
The Saturday session was inter-
rupted by another of the periodic
clashes among committee members
that have marked the inquiry. 1t
came when Senator Brewster, Re-
publican, of Maine accused Admiral
Inglis Of having given unqualifiedly
false" testimony on previous day
as to the number of American bat
tleShips in the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans in 1941.
Chairman Barkley admonished
Senator Brewster that this hear
ing should be conducted with de-
corum," and said he thought the
Maine Senator's charge was "out
OF order"
Several other committee mem
bers, including Representatives
Cooper of Tennessee, Murphy of
Pennsylvania and Senator Lucas OF
Illinois, all Democrats, rallied to
the defense of Admiral Inglis.
Later Senator Lucas issued a
statement, declaring that the at
tacks made on witnesses in the
hearings ''have reached an all-time
low"
Admiral Inglis said the Senator
from Maine has impugned my hon.
esty and motives, and resent that
He then explained that when he
gave the number of battleships In
1941 as Is, of which 6 were in the
Atlantic and 9 in the Pacific, he
was referring to the battleships that
were with the fleets. 1t later de-
veloped that there were two new
battleships - the washington and
North Carolina-which had just
been completed, but Admiral Inglis
tsee PEARL HARBOR, Page AL