U.S.A. AFFAIRS

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 June 1944, Page 5

U.S.A. AFFAIRS

PEARL HARBOUR REVELATIONS (Re.:. 10.15 a.m.) WASHINGTON, June 14. Mismanagement by an Army Colonel and his collaboration with a Ger-man-born contractor delayed the completion of an aircraft-warning system that would have detected the approach of the Japanese planes in the Pearl Harbour attack, and by which the Japanese assault could have been robbed of the surprise element, had there been no neglect and delay in carryinug out the contracts. This is stated in a report by the House Military Committee after a secret investigation.

The United Press points out that the planes’ approach to Pearl Harbour actually was detected by a soldier v. ho was authorised to practise in the operation of a radio locator, but his senior officer refused to heed his warning. The Committee criticised Colonel Theodore Wyman, District Army Engineer, Honolulu, for discriminating in favour of Hans Wilhelm Rohl, in awarding secret Army construction contracts. The Committee said that the evidence showed that Rohl was arrogant, boastful, aggresively proGernjan, and proud of his association with high Nazis. The evidence also showed that Wyman spent the night of the Pearl Harbour attack at Rohl’s home, after which Wyman rushed to his office in civilian clothes in a drunken condition and changed into his uniform in the presence of the office staff, including women, shouting orders to everybody.

The Committee noted that Wyman was awarded the Distinguished' Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious service at Honolulu from October 14, 1941, to March 15, 1942, covering the period of the Rohl contracts. The Committee’s, report concluded: “We think the facts reported justify some action by the War Department.’’