GREAT CONFUSION

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21600, 10 December 1941, Page 5

GREAT CONFUSION

AT SAN FRANCISCO PLANES SWARM OVER AUDACIOUS STRATEGY (United rrcss Assn.—E?ec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Dec. 10, 11.50 a.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 9 “All clear,” after a further alarm, sounded at 3.27 a.m., local time. ! Officials are not in agreement as to | whether the planes that swarmed over the city were friends or enemies.

! Washington authorities stated that ' the alarms were only tests, but I Brigadier-General Ryan, of the Fourth Interceptor Command, insisted that the unidentified planes were not United States craft that they had approached the Golden Gate and had been driven back to sea.

The alarm was broadcast by the police at Brigadier-General Ryan’s orders. It produced tremendous confusion. Twice the police advised that the air raid alarm be called off. Twice Brigadier-General Ryan insisted on its continuance.

There is no immediate indication as to whether the raiders again flew over the strategic area or had been I intercepted by United States planes. Brigadier-General Ryan refused to disclose what may have occurred durj ing the alarm, which lasted nearly an hour.

The interception and repulse of the raiders was a general source of gratification, but this was tempered by the fact that the planes were identified as a reconnaissance mission and by a realisation that the extremely audacious strategy of the Japanese would risk an all-or-nothing bid for supremacy.

The California area, with its vast aircraft plants and shipyards, offered a tempting cluster of targets. Informed quarters agreed on this, but the shrewdest guess was that the Japanese hoped to strike a surprise blow at one of the major navy bases, with the idea of inflicting further damage to the fleet’s operating facilities ashore.

Squadrons of Planes

Army information sources stated that hostile planes reconnoitred the San Francisco Bay area and other sections of California early this morning. No attempt was made to bomb any strategic defence areas. The presence of the squadrons indicated that an enemy aircraft-car-rier is lurking off the coast, possibly as far out as 500 miles. “The Japanese are off the Aleutian Islands and we expect them here at any time,” was a warning given by the Mayor of Victoria, British Columbia. Canadian air and land forces are standing by. Store Windows Smashed | A crowd of almost 3000 roamed Seattle’s business district early toi day, smashing the windows of stores | which failed to observe the blackout. ; Several people were taken into custody. At least four were treated for injuries.