This story appeared in the Dec. 25, 1941 Enterprise and illustrates the community response to the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor.
Navy Secretary Knox, returning from a plane trip to Hawaii, reported the U.S. airmen services there were not on the alert against the first Japanese attack. Mr. Knox said that the Navy lost one capital ship, a training ship, three destroyers, and one mine-layer and suffered damage to other ships which will take from several days to several months to repair.
He reported 2,729 Navy officers and men were killed and 656 wounded.
Pending completion of a special board of inquiry, ranking officers of the Hawaiian command were relieved of duty and replaced.
SELECTIVE SERVICE
Congress passed a bill calling for registration of all men between 18 and 65 and making those from 20 to 44, inclusive, liable for military service.
War Secretary Stimson told a press conference voluntary enlistments will be suspended as soon as the “present rush of patriotism” is over. All further manpower will then be obtained by the selective service system. The Census Bureau estimated the U. S. and the Allied powers,including China and India, have 163,887, 000 men of fighting age —18 to 35 — while the Axis nations have 28,660,000.
NAVY
The Navy Department authorized all navy yards to make maximum use of extra shifts and overtime work to rush construction. All Navy employees were ordered on a 48-hour week. Four ships were launched: the USS COLUMBIA—a 10,000ton cruiser—and three destroyers.
PRODUCTION
Office of Production Management (OPM) Director Harrison announced American and British plane output will surpass that of Germany by the summer of 1942; the U. S. will produce 840 light and medium tanks this month and 2,800 a month by this time next year; machine tool production necessary for critical Army weapons will probably be doubled in the coming year; the first bomber will be produced shortly after January 1, at the new $11,000,000 Kansas City assembly plant from parts made by the auto industry; plans have been approved by the Supply Priorities and Allocation Board (SPAB) to triple aviation gasoline production.
PRIORITIES
OPM extended its ban on new auto tires and tubes to January 4 and said a rationing program will go into effect January 4 providing tires only for essential commercial and public welfare activities. OPM also announced full control of all tin in this country or en route by water; ordered manufacturers of ranges, stoves, and other cooking appliances to curtail use or iron and steel; ruled sheepskin can be used only on OPM order; simplified priority procedure to permit extension of ratings by manufacturers themselves on orders for less than $500 worth of material.
MATERIAL
The SPAB announced preparation of a program to insure adequate supplies of those raw materials from the Pacific area “even in case America’s access to overseas sources is cut off entirely.” OPM Director Knudsen asked all individuals to gather all scrap of any kind in their homes and workshops and sell it at once to scrap dealers. Civilian Supply Director Henderson said the war effort requires 50 pounds of waste paper a month from every family.
The Office of Price Administration (OPA) Consumer Division reported that retreading auto tires only 40 to 50% of the cost of a new tire and gives 75 to 80% of new tire mileage. The OPM asked the public not to purchase new materials for blacking out windows and not to use surgical tape to protect windows from air raids.
••• HYSTERIA
Michigan’s first weeks under war conditions were spent by citizens and officials under unusual circumstances.
Peace-time thinking had been drastically revised. The transformation was unparalleled in its swiftness.
Whereas many citizens had been divided in attitude about isolation and intervention, or suspicious at the administration, they became overnight intensely indignant, feverishly at white heat in anger, thoroughly aroused and embittered and determined to do something about it at once, without delay.
The result, of course, was inevitable.
Calm thinking gave way to jittery thinking. In view of the sudden outbreak of war, it was perhaps inevitable.
Leelanau Enterprise Dec. 25, 1941
