NOT ON ALERT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 December 1941, Page 5

NOT ON ALERT

AMERICANS AT HAWAII FRANK ADMISSION MADE BY COLONEL KNOX. RESULTS OF THE JAPANESE ATTACK. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) WASHINGTON, December 16. The Secretary of the Navy, Colonel ' Knox, in a statement issued after his visit to Hawaii, said that the Japanese purpose was to knock out the United States before the war began. This was apparent by the deception indulged in for many weeks before the attack, and the attacks themselves, which were simultaneous throughout the Pacific. The Japanese, however, failed. The United States services were not on the alert against the surprise attack in Hawaii. 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, which was destroyed by an explosion in the boiler and the forward magazine, due to a bomb falling down the smokestack. The Navy also lost the old target ship Utah, three destroyers— Cassin, Downes and Shaw and the mine-layer Oglala. “The Navy sustained 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 c’an be righted and repaired.

SEEKING THE ENEMY. “The entire balance of the Pacific fleet, with aircraft-carriers, are not injured and are all at sea, seeking contact with the enemy. “Japanese material losses were three submarines and 41 aircraft. “Like all treacherous attacks, the bombing of Pearl Harbour caught certain vessels undergoing their periodic overhaul, but the crews of these ships were rescued. Hundreds of survivors were thrown 'into the water by explosions. Meanwhile the surface water became a raging inferno from burning oil.

“Doubtless the whole spectacle was the greatest spontaneous exhibition of co-operation, determination and courage that 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 that two-man submarines took part in the Japanese attack. Of 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 is believed that between 150 and 300 planes participated in the attack —too many to come from a single air-craft-carrier. The attacks were apparently made by single-engined ma-

chines and seemingly none was landbased. No new weapons were used. “I think the most effective fifth column’ work of the war was done at Hawaii, with the possible exception of Norway,” said Colonel Knox. So far as is known, no Germans took part in the raid. The dry docks escaped damage, and also the oil tanks. "Colonel Knox said that the Navy personnel losses both on ships and'on shore, included 91 officers and 2638 men killed, and 656 wounded. Army losses were severe in aircraft and hangars, but replacements had arrived or were on the way.

The Arizona, completed in 1916 and modernised in 1931, was a battleship of 32.600 tons, with 14-inch guns. The Utah (21,800 tons), was completed in 1911 as a “super-dreadnought,” and was converted into a target ship 10 years ago. The Oklahoma, completed in 1916, is of 29,000 tons, and carries 14-inch guns. The destroyers Cassin. Downes, and Shaw, were sister ships of 1500 tons, and 361 knots speed.