SITTING SHOT

Evening Star, Issue 24103, 26 January 1942, Page 5

SITTING SHOT

U.S. Caught Asleep PEARL HARBOUR DISASTER Plans and Warnings Disregarded Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright WASHINGTON. January 24. The Presidential Inquiry Board, headed by Mr Justice Heberts, to-night released its report on the circumstances of the Pearl Harbour attack on December 7. The report placed the blame for the Ariicrican losses in Pearl Harbour upon Admiral Husband Kimriicl and Lieutenant-general Walter Short, charging them with dereliction of duty. The report exonerates from blame all subordinate commanders, and states that the ranks were present in sufficient numbers and in satisfactory condition. It finds that the commanders were in possession of plans prior to the attack, and that they had been warned 10 day's before by Admiral Stark of probable Japanese attacks in the Pacific. Had the plans been put into operation the attack would not have achieved such success. The report adds that some time before the attack took place a Japanese submarine was sighted but no general alarm was given. An u.c.o. saw a large number of planes 120 miles distant, but took them to bo friendly machines, and so no general alarm was given. Had the plans been put into operation reconnaissance warships and planes would have given warning of the impending attack. The general comment on the report can be summed up by the words: “ It’s a good thing, for i(t clears the air and the decks for job ahead.”