GRIM RUMOURS OF U.S. LOSSES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 292, 11 December 1941, Page 5

GRIM RUMOURS OF U.S. LOSSES

PEARL HARBOUR ATTACK NAVAL COMMITTEE WANTS AN EXPLANATION “SOMEBODY ASLEEP,” SAYS A CRITIC ■ By Telegraph—Pre«» Association—Copyright.) New York, Dec. 9. The New York Post’s Washington correspondent said the grim, tightlipped silence at the Navy Department to-day did nothing to dispel widelycredited reports that the United States Navy had suffered a major disaster in Sunday’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbour. In Congress and other official quarters the belief grew that the losses in the Pacific have been far heavier than has so far been announced. Neither from the Navy nor White House could any denial be obtained of reports which, if true, would put the Pearl Harbour engagement and the subsequent encounters among the greatest naval disasters in history. Not denied, at least for the time being, was a story that the Pacific Fleet lost four battleships, ten cruisers, and an even larger number of destroyers. It must be remembered, however, that such losses have not been officially confirmed. Senator C. W. Tobey (New Hamshire >. in the Senate to-day. said it was reported that a large part of the Pacific Fleet had been wiped out, and he demanded that the people be told the truth.

“The pride of the American people in their Navy and their confidence in some of their officials have been terribly shaken. '■ he said.

A declaration that someone responsible for the defence of Hawaii was asleep at the time of the Japanese lightning attack, was made in the House, of Representatives before the Naval Committee to-day by Mr. B. M. Vincent (Kentucky). The committee voted to ask the Secretary of the Navy. Colonel F. Knox, and the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral \V. D. Stark, to appear to-morrow for questioning regarding the Japanese penetration of Hawaiian naval defence . PresivSnt Roosevelt said that neither he. nor anyone else, including Congress, knows who was responsible for the initial success of the disastrous Japanese assault on Hawaii on Sunday.—B.O.W.