U.S. Precautions Against Surprise Attack In Pacific

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 October 1948, Page 5

U.S. Precautions Against Surprise Attack In Pacific

TOKIO, Oct. 15.

Practical precautions against the possibility of another Pearl Harbour were discusseed at a series of armed services’ conferences at General MacArthur’s headquarters this week says the Tokio Correspondent of the Associated Press. Present at the conferences were General MacArthur, LieutenantGeneral Nathan Twining, commanding the Alaska air defences, and Vice Admiral John L. McCrea deputycommander of the United States Pacific Fleet. There was no formal announcement of the conferences, which were labelled “top secret.” It is understood that the officers planned a strategy to prevent a recurrence of any such surprise attack as the 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbour.

Britain Not Represented

It was offiicially stated to-day i that British Commonwealth repre-1 sent’atives did not attend the defence conferences. The Commander-in-chief of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (Lieutenant-General H. C. A. Robertson), who was in Tokio during the conferences, which discussed general defence preparations in an area extending from Okinawa to Alaska, declined to comment but described the official report that he had not attended as “interesting.” Informed sources said that General Robertson was told of the results of the talks. All sources emphasised, however, that there wes the closest co-operation between the British and American Forces in the Far East. American aircraft had joined B C O.F. fighter wings in excercises over southern Japan, and combined fleet ' exercises had also been held. There would be no lack of co-opera-tion in an emergency. Plans Already implemented Measures already taken to prevent a surprise attack against J span include: , . . .... (1) The use of radar indentification for all aircraft over Japan,Korea, and Okinawa. (2) The arming of all operational aircraft. (3) The steppmg-up of radar efficiency in stations throughout Japan. (4) A vast airfield construction and rehabilitation programme which when completed will give the United States a series of strategically situated fields throughout the Far, East capable of accommodating the biggest bombers. (5) A sea radar warning system stretching all the way from the Arctic Cicle along the coast of Esat Asia. (.6) Daily Superfortress reconnaissance fights within 30 milestof Soviet territory. , „ „ (7) A fighter escort for all Russian aeroplanes entering Japan. (8) Plans for the emergency evacuation of all American women and children primarily from Korea, and secondarily from Japan. Military officers emphasise these are not “scare” precautions, but that it would be criminal foolishness not to be ready if war came.