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Tuesday, December 9th, 1941
Daily Sketch
US Declares War On Japan
1,500 DIE, 1,500 INJURED in HAWAII RAID
The United States is at war with Japan as a result of the unprovoked arrack in the Pacific on Sunday.
Twenty-five minutes after President Roosevelt addressed Congress in Washington last night, a “state of war was recognised” by mwmbers, cheering and shouting their support of the president, who delivered his shortest and most impressive statement.
America is united behind the President. All opposition disappeared overnight even as the Japanese bombs were falling on Pacific island bases of Hawaii and Guam.
3,000 Casualties In First Raid
From the White House last night it was announced that the Jaoanese killed 1,500 and wounded 1,500 in the first attack on Oahu Hawaii.. In Pearl Harbour one old battleship capsized, several other ships were serioously damaged, a destroyer was blown up, army and navy aircraft were damaged and many planes put out of commission.
Japanese claims are two battleships sunk and four other large warships badly damaged.
The White House also stated: “American operations against Japan are being carried out on a large scale, resulting in the destruction of a number of Japanese planes and submarines.
Wake and Midway islands, in addition to Guam and Hong Kong, have been attacked, it was stated, but details are lacking.
While Sunday’s raid was in progress a number of bombers arrived safely from San Francisco. Repair work is under way on the ships, planes and ground facilities damaged by Japanese bombs.
Japanese bombers struck at military bases and ports throughout the Philippine Islands, at Fort Stotensburg, Clark Field, Bagulo, Davao, Aparri and batan Island groups.
In a raid on Manila 200 casualties were reported among army units.
The presidential spokesman said experts thought that probably all the attacking planes came from aircraft carriers which moved forward during the night.
According to the Davao corespondent of the Manila Herold , Japanese bombs hit an aircraft carrier. But the aircraft carrier, whose planes whose planes bombed Pearl Harnour, has been torpedoed, according to an N.B.C. broadcast.
Australian Island Raided
Against this, it was reported from Manila, that the American transport, General Hugh Scott, formerly the liner, President Pierce, was sunk 1,600 miles off Manila, and the liner, President Harrison, was sized or sunk off Shanghai.
Mr John Curtin, Australian Premier, announced in Melbourne yesterday that the Japanese had attacked Nauru Island, one of the Samoan group in the Pacific. Ocean Island was also attacked. The raiders are believed to have come from an aircraft carrier.
On December 27 last, Mr Menzies, then Australian Premier, announced that an enemy raider sailing under a Japanese name and Japanese colours heavily shelled Nauru, about 1,300 miles north-east of the Australian mainland. Buildings and works on the island were badly damaged, Nauru is chiefly valuable for phosphate deposits.
Ready: East to West
The Pacific coast from Alaska to Mexico has been placed on a war footing, and all defence installations placed in readiness. Coast defences and anti-aircraft batteries are manned and scores of warships are standing to.
Rear-Admiral Andrews, Commander of the North Atlantic Coastal Frontier, which includes New York harbour, declared yesterday: “We do not expect any very large attack, but token bombings by Axis planes are possible in the New York aria.”
Conscripts Abroad
The repeal of restrictions forbidding American Army conscripts and National Guards from operation outside the Western Hemisphere will be considered by the Military Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives in Washington to-day.
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