Few people in The United States or Canada knew the Japanese posed a threat to America through the Aleutians—until, on June 21, 1942 the Navy issued a press release. “The enemy has occupied the undefended islands of Attu and Kiska…” Americans scurried for their globes and Atlases and few suddenly became many.
The occupation galvanized public opinion. The Salt Lake Tribune headlined, “Coast Cities Redouble Vigilance Against Jap ‘Sneak’ Attack”. The story reported dramatic responses up and down the west coast of the United States and Canada.
Few Canadians objected when the Canadian government silenced radio stations and placed defense forces on high alert in British Columbia and Yukon Territory. And few Americans objected when their authorities ordered radio silence along the entire Pacific coast from Canada to Mexico; placed all Pacific coast civilian defense agencies on high alert. Civilians, they suggested, should use blackout curtains or, at least, window shades after dark along the western coast.
In a Washington press conference, Secretary of War Henry Stimson declared, “I warn you this is not the only and last raid we many expect.” A reporter asked him whether his warning applied to the Continental United States as well as to outlying possession. He declined to place geographical boundaries on his opinion.
The Santa Cruz Sentinel reported from Philadelphia, “An unidentified man, his face red with rage, stomped six blocks down dignified Chestnut Street last night, buying newspapers headlining the Japanese attack on Dutch Harbor and tearing them into shreds. Police said he was within his rights.
The Japanese stoked public fear as much as they could. On June 20th, a Japanese submarine torpedoed a Canadian lumber ship off Cape Flattery and shelled a telegraph station on Vancouver Island. On the 21st it bombarded the naval base at Astoria, Oregon and three days after that it shelled Ft. Stevens.
And the land route to Alaska vaulted onto front pages and into newsreels. The spotlight of public attention zeroed in on the Alaska Highway Project.
Can you find out why adak was not mentioned by the US about the Japanese there.when I lived there it was a top secret Base..maybe now they have declassified it.obama closed it down.from what I was told.
I don’t know a lot about the recent history of the Aleutians. I know the Navy and the Coast Guard have bases. And they patrol there. But, of course, that isn’t about Japan any more. When did you live there?
Bruce Brown