ACTION DEMANDED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 January 1942, Page 4

ACTION DEMANDED

PEARL HARBOUR DISASTER COMMENT ON REPORT. PICTURE OF INCOMPETENCE. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) WASHINGTON, January 26. Full Congressional investigation into the Pearl Harbour disaster is demanded in Congress by members of both major political parties, who declared that Mr Justice Roberts’s report uncovered a picture of incompetence which should be further explored. It was indicated at the White House that President Roosevelt does not intend to order a' court-martial for Admiral Kimmel and General Short, leaving further action to Mr Stimson and Colonel Knox. It is learned that Admiral Kimmel and General Short are not subject to articles of war regarding court-amtrial because the offence was committed when the country was still officially at peace. Mr'May, the chairman of the House Military Affairs Committee, said: “I will certainly get my committee into action if there isn’t a court-martial or the President doesn’t dismiss Kimmel and Short. Justice Roberts’s report is good as far as it went but leaves more blanks than it fills in. The system seems wrong. Congress should institute unity of command.” Representative Maas said: “The tragedy is the tragedy of the system, not of the individual. There isn’t any coordination between the Army and the Navy.”