later to help train a new mechanical worker. The two sailors who were watching the radar that morning noticed what seemed like a huge air convoy heading in their direction a few miles away from the harbor. The two reported it to the command station, however an inexperienced boy posted there picked up and told the sailors that the signal was nothing important and to ignore it. This was around 7:15, the first bomb would not be dropped until forty minutes later. Had Short made sure experienced people were where they needed to be someone might have been able to investigate more into the matter and realize those were not US planes arriving early. (Pearl Harbor Show) After the attack, General Short in a report by the Joint Committee on the Investigation of the Pearl Harbor attack as stated in Document E made what seemed like irrational attempts to put the blame in Washington. Claiming to be singled out (by the War Department) asthe scapegoat for the disaster, Short says the reason he was unable to prevent the attack was because the government officials did not include all the information he needed in the war warning. He bellieves had he had more information he would suddenly become a logically man with some sense and go on all-out alert. However, even with the information Washington did give Short, he should have been able to put the base on more of a defensive than what was done. For example, as Colonel Rufus Bratton, Chief of Army Intelligence for the Far Eastern Section, explains how Short was not supposed to have the fleet doced in the harbor as they were. We all thought they had gone to seaBecause that was part of the war plan and they had been given a war warning. Luckily the aircraft carriers had been sent to sea and were not lost during the attack. Regardless of whether or not Japan would be attacking Pacific naval bases, both parties should have been doing more to prepare for the worst. They knew Japan was becoming host...
