Sunday, September 16, 1945 AT SEA

NESHOBA DUE TO ARRIVE AT PEARL HARBOR ON MONDAY IF SHIP CONTINUES AT SAME SPEED; NO ANNOUNCEMENT CONCERNING 97TH PASSES!
Our position as of 8PM last night:28 31'N,152 20'W

The Neshoba was 570 miles from Pearl Harbor at 8 p.m. yesterday, with indications that the APA would enter the harbor of the famed naval base at 8 a.m. Monday.


There was no word as to whether troops of the 97th Division aboard would be granted "shore liberty."
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The approach of this vessel to the Hawaiian Island of Oahu will be from the north west, Ensign Barr, ship navigator declared last night to THE TRIBUNE.

The first part of the island which will be sighted by troops aboard will be a mountain range, with the highest mountain, Mt. Kaala, towering 4,025 feet above sea level, he said.

The ship will round Kaena Point, heading for Pearl Harbor, and once around a second point--Barber's Pt., famed Diamond Head will be seen. This landmark is an old volcano crater
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As the ship draws near the entrance to the Jap-hit base, a pinkish-colored hotel--the Royal Hawaiian--can be seen off starboard. It is located on Waikiki.

The mountain range is the Koolau Range, with its highest mountain, Kouahuani Peak, rising to 3,150 feet.

The entrance to the anchorage will be through a channel wide enough for only one ship and but 40 feet deep.

At this point, the bottom can be seen clearly. On the right of the entrance is Hickam Field. On Ford Island inside Pearl Harbor is the Naval Air Station.

The City of Honolulu,. capital of the territory of Hawaii, is located 8 miles east of Pearl Harbor.

Arrival by 8 a.m. Monday is based on the ship continuing at its present speed, Mr. Barr said.
Probable anchorage for the Neshoba will be the East Lock at the north end of the harbor, he said.

Pearl Harbor, hit by the Japanese sneak attack of December 7, 1941 over the Koolau range, has the largest dry dock in the world.