WARNING IGNORED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 89, 26 January 1942, Page 4

WARNING IGNORED

ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOUR. 1 I HIGH OFFICERS BLAMED. REPORT BY COMMISSION. (United Press Association —Copyright.) WASHINGTON, January 24. The Presidential Inquiry Board, headed by Mr Justice Roberts, to-night released its report on the circumstances of the attack on Pearl Harbour by the Japanese on December 7. The report placed the blame for the American losses at Pearl Harbour upon the _foimer Commader-in-Chief of the United States Pacific Fleet (Admiral Husband E. Kimmel) and the Commander of the Hawaiian Department (LieutenantGeneral Walter Short), charging them with dereliction of duty.

‘ All subordinate personnel are exonerated by the report, which states that Amjericnh aircraft- were present in sufficient number and fit condition to do all that was required. The responsible commanders possessed plans which would have prevented the disaster, but they failed to confer on the orders and warnings issued several days be I ore, and failed to adopt the necessary precautions. If the orders had been complied with, the army aircraft would have booh ready, distant reconnaissance operations and inshore air patrols would have been carried out. and the navy’s anti-aircraft guns would have been ready.

The report describes bow an enemy submarine was sunk some time before the air attack, but no general warning Was given. When aircraft appeared no alert warnings were issued, although the Chief of the Naval Staff had been informed of the attack on the submarine half an hour before. Later a hon-connnissioned officer saw a large flight of enemy aircraft approaching, but when he informed an Army lieutenant the officer asserted that the aircraft must bo friendly, and took no action.

The report gives as contributory causes of the disaster the emphasis laid in the warning messages on the possibility of a Japanese attack in the Far East rather than in the Pacific, and the need for anti-sabotage precautions rather than those .of a military nature.

The report pays tribute to the efficiency of the Japanese intelligence, and the skill and forethought with which the attack was carried out.

SINKING OF ENEMY SUBMARINE.

AN HOUR BEFORE THE ATTACK. NO PERMANENT RAID WARNING. (Ret*. 1.5 a.m.) NEW YORK, Jan. 24. The report on the attack on Pearl Harbour revealed that tile. Luited States fired the first shots of the war when a destroyer patrol plane sank a small submarine just outside Pearl Harbour an hour before the attack was made. Although the incident was reported to the naval base no alert orders were issued. A non-commissioned officer operating a sound detector located a large flight of planes 'north-east of Dahu 130 miles distant, 45 minutes before the attack. Tlic non-com. reported the discovery to an inexperienced lieutenant, who' took no action because ho believed they were friendly planes. information indicates that the Japanese used four aircraft-carriers and between 150 and 200 planes, with an unknown number of supporting surface craft and a few small submarines. On | the morning of the attack the Army’s permanent air-raid warning had not been completed, only the mobile locator equipment having been installed at temporary locations, which operated only three' hours daily, between 4 a.m.'and 7 a.m. The Japanese attacked at 7.45. Army aircraft were hunched at the airport in order to guard against sabotage, instead of being dispersed, which resulted in such heavy destruction that only a few fighters were able to take off after the Japanese attacked. The report said that the Secretary of the Navy (Colonel Knox) warned the Secretary for War )Mr H. L. Stimson) by letter on November 24: “If war eventuates with Japan, it is believed possible that hostilities would be initiated bv a surprise attack upon the, Fleet or naval base at Pearl Harbour.” Admiral Kimmel and General Short received copies, the letter eoneluded.