LEAVE THE NAVY
--
One of the most popular indoor sports of the day is
to chide the Navy. Where is it? Why doesn’t it sink
the Jap navy? Does it know a war is under way? In
creased pressure Is being brought to bear, conscious
ly or otherwise, for the United States Navy to hurry
into a battle the outcome of which might be rather
doubtful.
The Japanese are doing all they can to promote this
pressure of public opinion in the U. S. Powerful short
wave stations in Tokyo, broadcasting what they term
as “news’ in English, are letting loose a barrage of
sarcasm designed with the hope of stirring up the
dander of the Amercan people. The Japs contend the
taxpayers of the United States have a right to know
where their navy is. They say the navv has perhaps
been scared out of the ocean, is afraid to show itself
Whether the Japs are succeeding in creating public
c,pinion to press the navy into action is an open ques
tion. It is known that a group of men in Topeka, Kan
sas, have what they call the “Chew and Spit Club,”
which meets on a street corner daily to ponder the
whereabouts of the navy. Comments are common in
Anchorage. Public opinion is a powerful thing and \r
aroused, the navy might well feel compelled to take
action wisely or otherwise.
When we in Anchorage chide the navy we are pi ty
ing into the hands of the Japanese. We are moldin'
the public opinion which, when sufficiently wide
spread, could force the navy into action. It is to the
advantage of the United States to keep the navy out
of action. Time is on our side. The longer we delay :
decisive battle, the stronger our navy will be. Like
wise, the longer we wait the weaker the Japanes
navy will be. Should the decisive battle come now. b
is highly doubtful which side would be victorious. P
could happen that the United States navy might take ;
beating. Then it would be three years before we could
build a new navy to carry on.
If we defer that, battle a year, our navy can go into
battle in a much stronger position and with little doubt
as to the outcome. We know we are building ships
faster than the Japanese are. Time works against the
Japs, and they know it. They want action now, before
our navy is strengthened. Instead of pressing for na
val action, we will be doing our part by standing by
with the full knowledge that the United States Navy
has never fallen down yet, and will not this time.
It will take more than Japs to “scare” the navy. We
are confident we coud beat them down today. But wt
must remember that we are playing this bloody war
for keeps. Why beat them with one club today when
we will have two clubs to use on them tomorrow?—
Anchorage Daily Times.
BLIMP BOS S— Commander
Frederick C. Sachse is executive
officer at (he important cast
coast blimp patrol station.
I
Normandie In
quiry Underway
WASHINGTON. Feb. Hi— The
] Navy announced Saturday that a
' court of inquiry has been conven
ed to investigate the cause of the
fire which swept the former'
French lner Normandie at her
New York pier. The Normandie,
renamed the U. S. S. LaFayette.
caught fire and turned over on
i her side from the weight of wa
ter pumped ;nto her. The inquiry
'court named by Navy Secretary,
, Frank Knox is headed by Rear
Admiral Lamar Leahy. A judge
j advocate and two other mem
bers make up th panel.
Said the announcement: “The
| court of inquiry has already be
gun proceedings. It is making a
i thorough investigation into all
! the circumstances connected with
i the fire in order to determine the
1 causes, damages to property and
i injuries to persons resulting
| from it, and the responsibilities
therefore." If the court finds that
offenses were committeed or ser
ious blame incurred, it will make
recommendations for any noces
|sary further proceedings.
AIRSHIP PATROL TO BE
ESTABLISHED ON COAST;
BLIMPS ARE TO BE USED
San Francisco, Calif., Feb. — Base blimps, the dread
of Submarine commanders, have been established in
San Francisco Bay, the Navy anounces.
An airship patrol squadron has been commissioned
frod nearby Moget Field and it is said that by the end
of the year it is expected the entire Pacific Coast will i
be under airship patrol to aid bombing planes and de- j
stroyers.
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J
Hawaii Offensive
Plans Prepared
Emmons Reports
i
HONOLULU, Frh. 13 — Offen
| sive plans hnve been prepared
I mvolv og the army, navy, and
air fr -<'cs of the United States
stationed n Hawaii, Lout. Gen,
Doles C. Emmons declared in a
rad i hr'.adcn-t to the American
i mainland. “We have offensive
plan- but they naturally cannot
be d •<•:■ - 1 until they have been
I executed," sa'd the commander
; :n chief of the Amor can forces
at this Pacific outpost.
The fleet raid on the Gilbert
and Marshall islands was “a taste
if the bitter dose” Japan may ex
o -■! said General Emmons. “The
army here is on guard,” he assur
d t•■■>-•(■ at home. “We are traili
ng. wo are building, we are pro
Hieing results. We are growing
Hr r.g r daily. The navy and the
t are very busy. AP I
ran say n >w is that the results
of tin -e efforts are visible.”
Gets'- t! Emmons warned ag
ainst believing r repeating ru
mors concerning Hawaii and its
garrison While some of the ru
■r irs are “laughable," he said, it
is play tin into the enemy’s hands
to he p gyve them circulation by
pas-iog th: m on.
HERRING ON AXIS PA TH— First submarine launched at the Portsmouth, V.H., navy yard
since Japan s attack on Pearl Harbor is above l .S.S. Herring, riding the PiseataQUc liver.
“R” TYPE SUBMARINE — R-18
The Light Cruiser U. S. S. Wichita.
1 Ik*mMtimk-. *&c'W. Jkxla&kjJii-foLti_f^i^c ^
THEY’RE IN THE NAVY NOW—Training craft ami navy blimps on temporary recess from their Atlantic patrol duties
squat in an cast coast hangar. The blimps from which trained observers scan the seas carry bombs and machine guns.