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The Canopus

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  • wcu_ww2-914.jp2
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  • In the fateful first week in December, the Canopus had just finished an extensive overhaul at Cavite Navy Yard, and emerged looking more like a war vessel than ever before. Many antiaircraft machine guns had been added to her armament, and light armor had been fitted around exposed positions, which later proved of immense value in warding off bomb fragments. The submarines were considered the first line of defense for the Philippines, and were expected to operate from bases as far advanced in the field as possible in order to utilize their maximum effectiveness. But submarines cannot operate long without supplies and repairs, and a surface tender had to be available for these services, even though her eventual loss by air attack would be almost a foregone conclusion if she stayed within aircraft range. The Canopus was chosen for this sacrifice, probably because the other tenders were newer and faster, and thus better able to avoid damage or loss in the open sea. But also involved in the decision was no doubt the fact that the Canopus had already demonstrated her ability to care for many submarines of various types and could handle the job alone, as long as she lasted. When the news of the treacherous blow at Pearl Harbor was flashed at 3:30 a.m. (Manila Time) on December eighth, we knew we had a job to do. There was no further sleep that night. Little knots of men were gathered all over the ship discussing the new situation. The comments heard most frequently were—"Well, this is why the Navy hired us", "Now at least we know it was best that our families were sent back to the States", but most urgent of all, "how long will it take the Big Fleet to get here?" That the Fleet would get there in time we did not doubt then; it was only later when the full story of the loss of planes and ships at Pearl Harbor became known, that officers of the Navy familiar with strategic problems involved began to have grave misgivings. The first day was one of intense activity. "Strip ship" was no longer a practice evolution—it was the real thing now. The guns had been manned constantly for days, for the Asiatic Fleet was aware of something in the air, and was prepared. But now the gun crews felt something of the tenseness of the hunter, with his finger on the trigger when he hears a rustle in the bushes.' Evidently this excitement was general because our own planes were fired upon by some of the other ships in the harbor, fortunately without, damage. No enemy planes appeared over Manila the first day, but they did strike with deadly effect at Clark airfield, about sixty miles further north. There they caught on the. ground nearly all the Army's heavy bomber strength in the Philippines, already loaded with bombs which they only awaited the order from the high command to deliver on Japanese air fields in Formosa. Who-can say what the future progress of the war might have been if that order had not been fatally delayed*7 We know what telling blows even a few Flying Fortresses can deliver, and here were squadrons of them, their wings clipped before they were allowed to strike one blow for freedom I Even the protecting fighter planes,
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Object’s are ‘parent’ level descriptions to ‘children’ items, (e.g. a book with pages).