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Out of the Night E The President of the United States immediately denounced it as treachery of the worst order. Since then the entire nation has echoed in a great and growing crescendo the President’s sentiments. While still talking peace with the United States, Japan struck without warning . And now the slogan has spread to the farthest corners of the United States: “Remember Pearl Harbor.” The American people will never forget, and they’ll never quit until the attack has been fully avenged. The big majority of American citizens in Hawaii who are of Japanese ancestry feel the same way as Americans of Anglo-Saxon stock. Thus far they have been calm and, with minor exceptions, have contributed their share toward meeting the situation. We in Hawaii are vitally concerned. Naturally all citizens, no matter what their racial or national ancestry, are expected to be loyal to the American flag and American traditions. In describing what happened at Pearl Harbor, we quote from the report of Secretary Frank Knox: “The essential fact is that the Japanese purpose was to knock out the United States before the war began. This was made apparent by the deception practiced, by the preparations which had gone on for many weeks before the attack and the attacks themselves, which were made simultaneously throughout the Pacific. In this purpose the Japanese failed.” Secretary Knox has told us of the number of casualties, has specified the vessels destroyed or put out of commission temporarily, and stated that American forces shot down forty-one Japanese planes and sank or captured three hostile submarines. It goes without saying that during the days immediately following the attack on December 7, the air was filled to suffocation with all sorts of rumors. But as the days went by and calm was restored, Hawaii buckled down to the business of preparing for whatever emergencies 42 First published January 1942. may await us in the future. Highest praise must be extended to every branch of our national defense in Hawaii, with the civilian holding a high spot in the picture. The Days Ahead The power of a seer is needed for one to penetrate the future in these troublous times and to forecast with any degree of accuracy what may be in store for us. In normal years, with the world comparatively free from major wars, the routine of business and relations between nations go along according to schedule. Deviation from a given program is the exception, and not the rule. At the beginning of this good year 1942, the world is so torn with turmoil, dissention, wars, death, and destruction that any attempt to forecast the events in the months to come would be akin to lunacy, utter folly. Some of us, perhaps, think we know, and many there are who will offer their forecasts. Here in the Pacific the waters are roaring with trouble. The Pacific is pacific no more. It is stormy from the uttermost reaches on the West to the uttermost fringes in the East. There is feverish activity at Panama. There is war in Hawaii. And in all the seas touching the Pacific—the China Sea, the Yellow Sea, the Java Sea, and other seas—there is war. The waters are a-whirl with it. All these things we know. The present is portentous. What Japan aims to do, what China can do, what the United States and Great Britain will do remain for the days ahead to reveal. With the entire civilized world in a jittery state, these islands will be more adversely affected, perhaps, than heretofore. Shipping to Hawaii will be more restricted. That goes without saying. Shortages in many commodities may develop. Whether we’ll be called upon to endure extreme hardships is in the lap of the gods, a circumstance of the future. The days ahead will bring Hawaii more and more into the world limelight, no matter which way the fortunes of war may sway. War!—1942 43 ...

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