CHANGES LIKELY

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21601, 11 December 1941, Page 5

CHANGES LIKELY

UNITED STATES COMMAND JAPAN’S SURPRISE ATTACK lUnltea Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 Official circles in Washington are depressed by the Japanese Fleet’s ability to approach as close to American shores as 1300 miles from San Francisco and to launch an attack on Hawaii without the Navy’s knowledge. It was freely predicted last night that there would be radical changes in the High Command. The United States Ambassador in Vichy, Admiral William Leahy, former Chief of Naval Operations, may be recalled to the United States to take up an important post. The question of responsibility for lack of knowledge of the attack is agitating almost all sections of Congress, which appears resolved to determine the facts.

The President’s secretary, Mr Early, asked whether there was any official explanation why the American Fleet was surprised at Honolulu, said: “No Japanese carriers were within 250 or 300 miles of Honolulu. The attack came about daybreak, and the carriers naturally had all night to approach under cover of darkness. The aircraft would take off and gain a high altitude, and come in from the darkness.”

It appears that the Japanese Intelligence Staff was* aware that it was the Pacific Fleet’s usual practice to put into Pearl Harbour at the week-end to give the crews extended leave.

The general understanding here was that American naval and air forces had maintained continuous reconnaissances to avoid just such a surprise attack.

Mr Roosevelt’s Report

Reference to the losses suffered by the United States Navy through the Japanese air attack on Pearl Harbour, Haiwaii, was made by President Roosevelt in his broadcast to the nation. He described it as “ a serious set back,” but gave no details.

Mr Roosevelt said neither he nor anyone else, including Congress, knew who was responsible for the initial success of the disastrous Japanese assault on Hawaii. He rejected the rumour from enemy sources claiming that the Japanese have naval superiority in the Pacific as the result of the attack. “ This is an old propaganda trick,” he said.

“ I have not sufficient information to state the exact damage to the fleet,” Mr Roosevelt added, “ but it is admittedly serious.” He was unable to say how quickly repairs could be made to the damaged units of the fleet, but the facts would not be concealed, provided their release would not give aid to the enemy. Claims by Japanese

The Japanese, in official broadcasts from Tokio, claim to have sunk two American battleships and a minesweeper, to have damaged four other capital ships and four cruisers, and to have destroyed 100 warplanes, in the attacks on Hawaii, the Philippines and Guam. The Domei agency said that Japan had thereby gained the mastery of the Pacific. It claimed the Japanese had captured many merchant ships in the Pacific without loss to themselves.