Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 8 December 1941 — Page 4
PAGE 4
'Japan's Action Suicidal—She Cannot Win, Says Admiral Yates Stirling
By REAR ADMIRAL YATES STIRLING JR. United Press Naval Critic. (Copyright, 1941, by United Press)
JAPAN HAS ATTACKED the United States by surprise and without declaration which throws us into war in the Pacific Ocean.
Fighting now is under way. A great follows: 1. The Japanese,
pattern of events appears to be shaping up roughly as if they have followed what
has been understood to be their great master war
plan, probably have launched tacks on all Russian, British Indies bases in the Pacific Ocean. 2. If the master war plan has
simultaneous atand Netherlands
been thrown into
operation, and if the Emperor of Japan has ap-
proved the attack, the United S war of unguessable magnitude.
tates is in for a
Our effort will be
to crush the Japanese navy and all Japan's armed
forces as quickly as possible.
3. The Japanese must clear their flanks if they
are to be successful. occupy Vladivostok, Russia's Far presumably might be made availa Soviet Kamchatka to the north,
That means an effort to
East base which / Admiral Stirling ble to our forces,
and possibly our own bases on the
Editor's Note: A reconstruction of the tremendous pattern of events involved in Japan's unprecedented attack upon the United States is given in the following dispatch by the former U.S. Naval Commander at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, who saw long service in the Pacific and is intimately familiar with the broad strategy involved.
Aleutian Islands off Alaska. An land is possible.
effort to attack the Alaskan main-
4. The Japanese may be receiving a measure of German advice and assistance. We must be prepared for news that limited numbers of German planes, submarines and surface ships are in action against
us in the Pacific.
TO THIS NAVAL observer, intimately familiar with the whole pattern of events in the Pacific—military, political and econemic—for many years, the Japanese action appears suicidal.
We may be in for a long and win. We are likely to suffer initial a terrible vengeance.
hard war but the Japanese cannot reverses but for them we will obtain
Generally speaking our positions in the Pacific Ocean have been
carefully prepared. They are ab
ly manned and details of our co-
operation with Britain, the Netherlands Indies, Australia and China,
were worked out weeks ago.
We can expect news of engagements between the raiding force
and our warships.
The United States Navy will not be satisfied until the entire Japanese raiding force in Hawaii has been sunk. The bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japanese dive bombing planes
probably came from the direction base to the northeast.
of the high mountains back of the
From this position the attackers would have
been concealed from view until they were almost over the base.
###
###
THIS HAVING BEEN a surprise attack, in time of peace United States planes could not have been expected to be in the air in great force. Therefore, the only defense at first would have been by antiaircraft guns. Thus, there would have been no excuse if the Japanese airmen had not done great damage with their bombs. If they did not inflict great damage, it shows the inefficiency of Japanese aviation, which has been reported frequently by our observers, especially from the Shanghai area during Chinese-Japanese
hostilities.
Japanese submarines have been on their way to the American
coast for several weeks, showing
being carried on in Washington, Japan had decided upon war. It would take at least 17 days for Japanese submarines from Japan to cruise to the Pacific Coast of the United States. A submarine, which has been reported 1300 miles southwest of
that even while negotiations were
CANADA GOES INTO THE WAR QUICKLY
Cabinet Called Into
Emergency Session;
General Order Issued to “Engage Enemy Wherever Found.”
OTTAWA, Dec. 8 (U. P.) support of the United States
—Canada came quickly to the last night with an announce-
ment that a state of war exists between the Dominion and
Japan.
The action, taken at an emergency session of the Cabi-
net, was the first such move commonwealth of nations. Prime Minister W. L. Mackenzie King called the Cabinet into session after receiving reports of the Japanese attack on Hawaii.
At the same time a general order was issued to the armed forces of the Dominion “to engage the enemy wherever they may be found.” The order-in-council declaring war on Japan was transmitted by
cable to the King for his personal signature on behalf of the people
of Canada. The state of war was effective, however, from the moment of announcement here.
Netherlands East Indies Also Acts Fast
NEW YORK, Dec. 8 (U. P).—The Governor-General of the Netherlands East Indies declared war against Japan last night. The declaration was made at 6:30 a. m. Netherlands Time.
Mexico, Angry, Almost
Ready to Declare
MEXICO CITY, Dec. 8 (U. P).— Foreign Minister Ezequiel Padilla today angrily condemned Japan's “aggression” against the United States and pledged Mexico's full assistance to her neighbor under the Havana Treaty, Simultaneously the pro-adminis-tration newspaper La Prensa of Mexico City demanded that Mexico declare war against Japan—an tuality which a Foreign Office ce told the United Press was impossible.”
BRIDE OF LEOPOLD ESCHEWS A DIADEM
BERLIN, Dec. 8 (U. P)— toral churches yesterday announced the marriage of Sept. 11 of Leopold III King of the Belgians, to Mary Lilian Baels, who eschewed the rank and title of queen and elected instead to be known as Princess of Rethy. Joseph Ernest Cardinal Van Roey, Archbishop of Malines, revealed that “we had the honor and joy of performing the royal marriage according to church ritual” in the chapel of Laeken Castle ouiside Brussels, where Leopold has lived in almost
|official quarters.
A pas-
complete seclusion since he surren-| orders from Washington for men in
dered the Belgian forces to the German army of invasion. Leopold declared that any children born of the marriage would have no rights to the throne.
INVOKE ESPIONAGE ACT WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 (U.P.).— The War Department today invoked the 1917 Espionage Act against publication of military information regarded as secret and relating to Army strength outside the continental limits of the United States.
Axis agreement might be invoked.
velt would be guilty in any war between the United States and “Eu-
a deserved result in the Japanese declaration of war,
by a member of the British
HINT AXIS AID FOR JAPANESE
German Press Cites Pact;
Blames Roosevelt for War in Pacific.
BERLIN, Dec. 8 (U.P.).—The press hinted today that a might go to the aid of Japan against the United States under the Axis military alliance and blamed the war in the Pacific on President Roosevelt. The official news agency, in a dispatch from Tokyo, quoted Japanese Premier Dideki Tojo, “I am happy that the alliance with Germany and Italy is growing ever
closer.” Blames President The newspaper B-Z Am Mittag was the first to suggest that the
It recalled an address by Foreign Minister Joachin von Ribbentrop Nov. 26 in which he said Mr. Roose-
rope or Asia.” “That still is true,” it said. “The responsibility for this war and all its consequences falls upon Roosevelt. It is true for Europe, it is true for the Far East it is true for the whole world conflagration.”
Officials Silent Except for a denunciation of Mr. Roosevelt by the official news agency, there was no comment from Officials were believed to be studying reports of the
of active German participation. Newspaper comment, unanimously denounced President Roosevelt as war-monger whose efforts brought
NO ORDERS GIVEN FOR RESERVES TO REPORT
Maj. Bayard Shumate, acting director of the State Selective Service, said today he had received no
reserves to report for duty at once. The major said that the telephone switchboards at Selective Service headquarters and Ft. Harrison were being swamped with calls from persons who had heard rumors that reserves were to go into active duty at once. “Just sit tight and keep your shirt on,” the major advised, “when orders come through from Washingtan, we will notify those concerned.”
HOLD EVERYTHING
COPY. 1941 BY NEA SERVICE
"Eat your vegetables, Jimmy- you don't want to be a little squirt
INC. Y.M. REG. U.S. PAT. OFF.
This picture taken aboard the huge U.S.S. North Carolina during recent ship trials is a scene being re-enacted in earnest on every ship in The men in the foreground are bending over to batten down the hatch. the after deck beneath the No. 3 turret. The forbidding 16-inch guns towering at an agle [angle] now are ready to answer Nippon's challenge.
the American fleet today.
Others ran to their posts.
San Francisco, would have taken at least 15 days to get there from
Japan.
The Japanese may try for a series of hit-and-run air raids from aircraft carriers on cities on the west coast of the United States proper but it is unlikely they can achieve much. One may be sure air patrols already have been established all along the West Coast region and that any Japanese effort will be met before it gets started.
THE NIPPONESE COMMANDERS probably do not envisage anything like an occupation of our islands but merely are seeking to do all the damage they can in a belief their losses will be less than ours
and that they can hamper our war
effort by crippling at least some of
our ships and shore establishments at the start.
An effort, of course, will be made to save the aircraft carrier or carriers involved in the raid. These ships probably are protected by submarines and will seek to run for the nearest Japanese base once the raid has been completed. Submarines previously would have been spotted along their prepared return course for protection.
Leaders of the isolationist America First Committee declared today that there still is work to be done by the Committee, regardless of the war with Japan. Merle H. Miller, state chairman
Work Still Ahead, Leaders
Of. America First Declare
after the welfare of the boys in camp, it was reported. America First officials declined to comment on a petition signed by a dozen local persons demanding immediate disbanding of the America First Committee.
of the Committee, was en route to Washington by plane when the Japanese attack became known.
Contacted as he landed at the Washington airport, he issued the following statement: “Our services both as individuals and as an organization belong to our Government. The sole question now is how best we may unite our energies to bring this conflict to a successful conclusion.” A further statement is expected upon Mr. Miller's return in the next few days. Meanwhile, other leaders of the group said one of its functions will be to guard against those “who don’t like our form of government and who would like to make it Fascistic.” The local America First group several weeks ago began plans for setting up its offices as a Red Cross workshop, and had started plans for co-operating with the United Service Organizations in looking
Mrs. Roosevelt Flying to Coast
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 (U. P.). —-Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, an assistant director of the Office of Civilian Defense, will leave for the Pacific Coast by airplane tonight to assist emergency civilian defense work. Mrs. Roosevelt, accompanied by her secretary, Miss Malvina Thompson, expects to arrive at Los Angeles tomorrow morning and to work in all the coast states. The extent of her stay will be determined by the necessities of the situation. Mrs. Roosevelt told a nationwide radio audience last night that there was no more uncertainty over the United States’ role in the war. “We know what we have to face and we know that we are ready to face it,” she said.
More Christmas
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AMERICAN NAVY OUTRANKS JAPS'
U. S., British and Dutch At Least Equal to Her Pacific Sea Power.
By UNITED PRESS
Japan, the world’s third naval power, opposed equal, possibly superior, American, British and Netherlands East Indies naval forces in the Pacific today. The last official record listed Japan as having nine capital ships, five aircraft carriers, 12 heavy cruisers, 27 other cruisers, 112 destroyers, 59 submarines, 12 torpedo boats and a naval personnel of 107, 000 men. Navy Secretary Frank Knox said recently that Japan has nine aircraft carriers, and the authoritative
letter read in all Belgian | hostilities and weighing the question | British Press Association said it was
believed that more than 12 destroyers had been commissioned since the last official estimate. The United States has 17 battleships, seven aircraft carriers, and an eighth newly completed; 37 cruisers, 171 destroyers and 111 submarines. Some of these ships, possibly half, are operating in the Atlantic. The British recently transferred to Singapore the new battleship Prince of Wales, another capital ship and a number of other vessels. The East Indies have a small, but well-equipped navy. The British Press Association suggested that the Japanese air force development is the lowest among major powers, that all its planes are copies of the world’s second best designed six years ago.
STANDARD MODIFIED FOR NAVY RECRUITS
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 (U, P).— The Navy today announced a modification of physical standards for enlistment in the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Naval Reserve and the Marine Corps reserve. Men with varicose veins, hernia and hydrocele will be accepted for duration of the emergency in all but the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps wi accept men with varicose veins
those with hernia. Applicants with hernia will be treated training station. Other physical defects which formerly barred men from service but
now are acceptable are seasonal hay fever, correctable nasal deformity, undernourishment and underdevel-
ganic disease, and other minor ical defects. The Marine Corps is going out in-
trucks to enlist men in the service, the Navy announced.
Get New 'Pots,’ Freshmen Told
Deciding to celebrate the perfect record of the freshmen foot
like your father, do you?"
at the naval
opment which are not due to organic disease, and other minor surg-
to the backwoods with recruiting
of the United States.”
‘Nothing to Fear,” Tells Japanese Empire
TOKYO, Dec. 8 (U. P.).—Japanese Premier Hideki Tejo in an address to the Japanese empire by radio today said: “There is nothing to fear in this war.” Announcing that Emperor Hirohito had declared war on the United States and Great Britain, Tojo said: “Japan has done her utmost to prevent this war, but in self-protection and for self-existence, we could not help from declaring war—considering the past attitude and acts
Tojo
Tojo said that the rise or fall of East Asia “depends on this fight.” He pointed out that in the 2100 years of Japanese history they had never lost a war. “We therefore ask your co-operation. I hereby promise you that the final victory will be that of Japan. “I ask that every individual in the island empire do
his utmost to defend our country.”
Urging the nation to be
The Premier concluded words:
history.”
calm and collected, Tojo said
“there is nothing to fear in this war.” In his remarks, Tojo maintained that Japan “had endeavored to settle her problems peacefully.”
his brief address with the
“Japan cannot help from fighting when we know we are actually on the crossroads of a rise or fall in our great
IMPOSE RADIO AND CABLE CENSORSHIP
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 (U.P).— The Navy Department announced today that censorship has been placed on all outgoing cable and radio messages.
“Censorship on all outgoing cablegrams and radio messages from the United States and its outlying possessions had been placed in ehrect.” No details were given as to the procedure that would be followed but observers believed a system similar to that employed in England would be used. No censorship was imposed immediately on outgoing mail.
‘NO PACIFIC MUNICH,' SAYS LEGION LEADER
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 (U. P).— Lynn U. Stambaugh, national commander of the American Legion, last night assured President Roosevelt that if Japan had hopes “for a Munich of the Pacific they will be disappointed. In a radio broadcast, Mr. Stambaugh traced the history of the Legion and its fight since 1919 for stronger armament and called for national unity. “All controvery as to why we were put in our present situation should be forgotten as we follow the lead of our Government,” he said. “All ambitions of labor and industry as result of the emergency should be gladly put aside.”
FUNNY BUSINESS
~
FIELD NAMED FOR A HOOSIER
Target of Air Attack Was Named for Spencer Man; Kin Lives Here.
Hickam Field, target of the air attack by the Japanese raiders yesterday and focal point for the Army Air Corps in the Hawaiian Islands, was named in honor of Horace Hickam, a native of Spencer, Ind. Lieut.-Col. Hickam attended Indiana University for a year preparatory to entering the United States Military Academy at West Point from which he graduated in 1908. During the last war he became a pioneer in aviation only to meet death in an airplane crash while
in charge of Midwestern air mail
deliveries seven years ago. His home base was Ft. Crockett, Tex. Col. Hickam’'s mother, Mrs. Willia Hickam, lives at 3419 N. Pennsylvania St. and Hubert Hickam, a brother, lives at 4400 N. Meridian Gt. Another brother lives in Spen-
cer. Col. Hickam, in whose honor a memorial plaque was unveiled in the Spencer Armory last January, was the founder of the Air Corps News Letter, news organ of the Air Corps, published by the Information Division in Washington, D.C.
Speed Defense Job Recruiting
IN ORDER TO obtain speedy recruiting of workers to take the place of those in defense plants who may be called to the services, the Employment Security Division today canceled all vacations and said employees would work overtime if needed. The order was made by Col. Everett L. Gardner, director, and effects 27 local offices throughout the State as well as the central office at 141 S. Meridian St. here. During the President's speech today, approximately 400 employees in the central office listened by radio. Following the speech, the employees took the oath of allegiance to the flag.
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DEMOCATIC [DEMOCRATIC] PARTY
Fred F. Bays, Democratic state chairman, in a letter to Clarence A.
Jackson, State Defense Council Di-
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diana Democratic party for what
ever purpose the Defense Council
may deem it can be helpful to the cause of the United States.”
He offered the services of “12,000
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equipment.”
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