THE HAWAII RAID

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24793, 18 December 1941, Page 7

THE HAWAII RAID

AMERICAN NAVAL LOSSES COLONEL KNOX’S REPORT FIFTH COLUMN ACTIVITIES WASHINGTON. Dec. 15. “ The Japanese purpose was to knock out the United States before war began,” declared the Secretary of the Navy, Colonel Frank Knox, in the course of a statement. This was apparent by the deception indulged in many weeks before the attack and by the attacks themselves, which were simultaneous throughout the Pacific. The Japanese, however, failed. The United States services were not on the alert against a surprise attack at Hawaii, and this would be investigated immediately. “My investigation made it clear that after the attack the defence by both services was conducted skilfully and bravely,” said Colonel Knox. “ The navy lost the battleship Arizona, destroyed by an explosion in her boiler and forward magazine due to a bomb falling down the smokestack. The navy also the old target ship Utah, three destroyers—Cassin, Downes, Shaw—and the mine layer Oglala. The navy suffered damage to other vessels. This varies from ships which have already been repaired and are ready for sea, or which have gone to sea, to a few ships which will take from a week to several months to repair. In the last category is the old battleship Oklahoma, which capsized, but can be righted and repaired. “The entire balance of the Pacific Fleet, with aircraft carriers, which are not damaged, is all at sea seeking contact with the enemy. The Japanese material losses were three submarines and 41 aircraft. “Like all treacherous attacks, the bombing of Pearl Harbour caught certain vessels undergoing periodic overhaul, but the crews of these ships rescued hundreds of survivors thrown into the water by the explosions. Meanwhile, the surface of the water had become a raging inferno from burning oil. Doubtless the whole spectacle 7 was the greatest spontaneous exhibition of co-operation, determination and courage the American Navy has been called upon to make. The crew of one ship followed it round on its outside as it capsized, firing the guns until they were under water.” Colonel Knox said two-man submarines took part in the Japanese attack. Of the three Japanese submarines known to be lost, one was of normal size, one was small, and the third, which was captured, was also small. It was believed that between 150 and 300 planes participated in the attack—too many to come from a single aircraft carrier The attacks were apparently made by single-engined machines and seemingly none was land-based. No new weapons were used. “I think the most effective Fiftn Column work of the war was done at Hawaii, with the possible excep tion of Norway. As far as is known ; no Germans took part in the raid, said Colonel Knox. The dry docks escaped damage, and so did the oil tanks. The navy personnel losses both on ships and on shore included 91 officers - and 2638 men killed and 656 wounded. The army losses were severe in aircraft and hangars, but replacements had arrived.or were on the way.

A TWO-MAN SUBMARINE (Rec. 7 p.m.) RUGBY, Dec. 16. It is reported from Washington that the Navy Department announced that a two-man , submarine captured in Pearl Harbour on December 7 was launched from a ship 100 miles distant for the purpose of taking part in the surprise attack. It had a nvefoot beam, was 41 feet long, and could be carried on the deck of a large vessel and launched over-side. The submarine’s speed was 24 knots. It carried two torpedoes and a 3001 b charge of high explosive, which could be used either as a demolition charge for the submarine itself or against a ship’s side.