America at war! (1941– ) (Part 1)

245

Manhattan New Year whoopee will cost $10 to $20 a head

New York (INS) – (Dec. 27)
From East Side juke joint to West Side plush palace, New York seesawed today between making New Year’s Eve an all-out celebration or saving tin for next year’s tax collection.

On the better-bistro circuit, reports ranged from “not so good” at Fefe’s Monte Carlo ($20 a head and no mark-off for bald ones) to “much better than last year” at the Versailles ($12.50 for one).

The Rainbow Room, with a $15 price tag on its party, said that advance reservations were “about the same as last year,” and the Waldorf-Astoria with two party rooms open at the $145 price gave a like report.

Monte Carlo’s $20 price was high in the field but the management reported that the stream of reservations pouring in weeks ago had shut off sharply since the war.

A good average for a night on the town in one of the better known palaces on New Year’s Eve would be $10-15 per person.

The Stork Club set a modest $10 on the holiday evening, but it was expected that only familiars would get past the bat to the throne room beyond which is about the size of your living room.

Although New Year’s Eve is commonly thought of as the property of the nightclub owners, there were others preparing for its celebration.

Citizens with subway fare and the price of a fish horn will, of course, wind up in Times Square where the entertainment provided is of the people, by the people and for the people. At the moment, the privilege of herding in Times Square on New Year’s Eve still stands, although there were preliminary fears than the police might forbid it.

Hosts to other thousands who prefer praying to playing when the New Year is at hand will be New York’s hundreds of churches, most of which will conduct special watchnight services.

New York ‘nightspots’ plan for New Year’s Eve

New York (AP) – (Dec. 27)
Manhattan’s nightspots, geared into a $15-per-person top, reported today that New Year’s Eve reservations were already “near capacity.”

In the larger hotels and night clubs the price of supper with entertainment, noisemakers and favors ranged from $5 to $145. Theaters quoted prices varying from $1.10 to $8.80, with an average top of $4.40.

Harry E. Bruckman, chairman of the state liquor authority, said 1,883 permits had been issued thus far for all-night sale of liquor. Last year’s total was 2,100.

246

U.S. Navy Department (December 29, 1941)

Communiqué No. 20

Far East.
U.S. submarines have sunk two additional ships of the enemy. One was a transport, the other a supply vessel.

During enemy air operations, one of our destroyers was attacked. Slight damage and minor casualties resulted.

Central Pacific.
Thirteen survivors of the SS PRUSA, torpedoed by an enemy submarine on December 18, have been rescued.

There is nothing to report from other areas.

247

Reading Eagle (December 29, 1941)

FLEET HELPING PHILIPPINES FIGHT JAPS
Navy bolsters FDR’s pledge of redemption

Nipponese planning capture of Manila ‘before New Year’s,’ Dōmei reports

Washington (AP) –
President Roosevelt pledged to the war-scourged peoples of the Philippines today that “their freedom will be redeemed and their independence established and protected.”

The President said:

The entire resources in men and material of the United States stand behind that pledge.

At almost the same time that the shortwave radio broadcast the President’s personal message to the Filipinos, the Navy issued a statement saying the fleet was intensively engaged against the Japs.

The Navy said:

The fleet is not idle. The U.S. Navy is following an intensive and well-planned campaign against the Japanese forces which will result in positive assistance to the defense of the Philippine Islands.

Japs anticipate victory

As Mr. Roosevelt’s message was made public, Dōmei was already anticipating victory. The official Japanese news agency reported that the Mikado’s expeditionary forces on Luzon were concentrating their main efforts on capturing Manila “before New Year’s.”

The Dōmei announcement occasioned no great surprise here, for it is well-known that the Japanese seek to have their victories fall on important festivals – and New Year’s is Japan’s greatest holiday.

It was noted that the Japanese were able to time their conquest of Hong Kong to coincide with Christmas – the day which marks the anniversary of the present emperor’s accession.

Arouses conjecture

The Navy Department announcement, which was made public a short time after President Roosevelt’s message last night, carried an encouraging ring and aroused all kinds of conjecture.

The announcement noted:

The Japanese government is circulating rumors for the obvious purpose of persuading the United States to disclose the location and intentions of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. It is obvious that these rumors are intended for and directed at the Philippine Islands.

Won’t be tricked

The Philippines may rest assured that while the U.S. Navy will not be tricked into disclosing vital information, the fleet is not idle.

This was the first official statement on the fleet since the week after the Pearl Harbor attack on Dec. 7. Then Secretary of the Navy Knox disclosed that the main body of the fleet with its battleships, cruisers, aircraft carriers and submarines was “at sea seeking contact with the enemy.”

At first glance, the Navy announcement last night was interpreted in some sources as a hint that it might still be possible to strike a telling blow which would put an entirely new aspect on the situation in the Philippines. They noted, in passing, the Japan’s widely-scattered invasion thrusts in the South Pacific required substantial naval support, forcing a reduction in the strength of the main enemy fleet.

There was no disposition here to believe that the U.S. Pacific Fleet intended to play into the enemy’s hands and enter the South China Sea, which is rimmed thickly with Japanese air and sea bases. However, the Navy announcement seemed to hold out the possibility of action soon.

And nothing could be more welcome than successful action to a capital burning with indignation over Japan’s wanton and systematic air attacks on historic Manila after it had been declared an open, undefended city.

From the ordinary government clerk to those legislators who thought Japan could be placated until Pearl Harbor, there was intense anger at the apparent Japanese efforts to make Manila the devastated Rotterdam of the Far East, as an object lesson to foes.

Calls occasion ‘solemn’

It was Manila’s tremendous ordeal and the valiant fight of the Philippines’ defenders that prompted President Roosevelt to send his message to the people of the islands last night. His words were relayed to Manila by shortwave for broadcast and publication there. Mr. Roosevelt did not speak on the radio in person.

The President, calling the occasion a “solemn” one, praised the Philippines for their “gallant struggle against the Japanese aggressor.”

The resources of the United States, of the British Empire, of the Netherlands East Indies, and of the Chinese Republic have been dedicated by their people to the utter and complete defeat of the Japanese warlords. In this great struggle of the Pacific, the loyal Americans of the Philippine Islands are called upon to play a crucial role.

The people of the United States will never forget what the people of the Philippine Islands are doing this day and will do in the days to come. I give to the people of the Philippines my solemn pledge that their freedom will be redeemed and their independence established and protected. The entire resources, in men and in material, of the United States stand behind that pledge.

It is not for me or for the people of this country to tell you where your duty lies. We are engaged in a great and common cause. I count on every Philippine man, woman, and child to do his duty. We will do ours.

248

American harbors protected by newly perfected devices

Washington (UP) –
Secret new harbor defenses, perfected in recent years by the U.S. Navy, make it virtually impossible for an enemy submarine to penetrate an American harbor undetected, naval sources said today.

By employing new methods of submarine detection, protective nets and minefields, it was believed a repetition of Scapa Flow, where a German submarine destroyed the aircraft carrier HMS Royal Oak as she lay at anchor in the big British naval base, would be extremely difficult.

Since World War I, methods have constantly been improved for detection of submarines, and as early as 1928, the British were said to have perfected a device for detecting submersibles even when they lay still on the bottom of the sea, their engines stopped.

There have been no details published regarding the attack by a submarine or submarines in Scapa Flow, but it was generally believed a submarine may have sneaked in with a British ship, taking advantage of the captain’s knowledge of minefields and a temporary “safety zone,” created in the electric minefields for the ship’s clearance.

One of the simplest methods of preventing such a recurrence was made public in an announcement by the Navy Hydrographic Office that ships entering the Strait of Juan de Fuca, between Victoria Island, British Columbia, Canada, and the State of Washington must, on signal, stop their engines.

The signal would be given by flashes of light from a shore point or from nearby naval vessels, and could not be seen by a submarine commander. When the ship’s engines stopped, he would be unable to stop his engines immediately and the presence of the submarine would be noted at once.

Even with the submarine’s engines not running, other detection devices could spot the underwater craft in little time and either mines or depth charges could be used to destroy it. It would be next to impossible for the submarine to escape once it had entered a mined passageway.

249

Churchill in Ottawa

Defense ministers will discuss war policy

Ottawa, Canada (UP) –
Prime Minister Winston Churchill arrived from Washington today with Prime Minister W. L. Mackenzie King and the dominion’s defense ministers for two days of war discussions with Canadian officials.

Churchill and his party arrived at the Ottawa Union Station at 9:09 a.m. ET. He was smiling and smoking a cigar as he got off the special train.

The crowd at the station cheered as Churchill waved.

Met by leaders

Churchill was met by members of the Canadian cabinet headed by Minister of Natural Resources T. A. Crerar and Justice Minister Louis St. Laurent. Mayor Stanley Lewis, wearing his chain of office, was also there.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers cleared a path through the crowd as Churchill headed for the car sent to take him to Rideau Hall, official residence of Governor General Lord Athlone.

Sir Charles Portal, Chief of the Air Staff, left the train with Churchill.

Before leaving the train, Churchill issued a statement saying he intended to return to Washington to climax by “practical, far-reaching decision” the conversations he has had with President Roosevelt.

The statement said:

The conversations in Washington are progressing so favorably that the Prime Minister is delighted to be able to take advantage of the present invitation to visit Canada.

250

U.S. bombers help Dutch

Cruiser and transport struck; 12 planes shot; block foe’s ‘chutists

Batavia, NEI (INS) –
With American-built bombers playing a major role, the Dutch East Indies Air Force today delivered smashing new blows to the Japanese Navy while an enemy parachute landing at Medan on the island of Sumatra was believed stemmed at the outset.

A Japanese cruiser and a transport were bombed and damaged and 12 Jap warplanes “probably” brought down. Military observers in Batavia said that the Japanese penetration at Medan “had not gotten far.”

A cruiser was hit and left afire off the Celebes, west of Borneo, and a transport was damaged by a direct bomb hit off Miri, Sarawak, on the west coast of Borneo, where Japanese concentrations are carrying on landing operations. There were no details of the operations that resulted in the bagging of the 12 enemy planes.

Mop up ‘chutists

Meantime, in stout defensive fighting near Medan, where the Japs landed parachute troops following a heavy attack on the Medan Airfield, the Dutch were reported to have blocked off the invaders. Fierce fighting was underway in this area in the effort to mop up the parachutists, who were reported to have landed in considerable numbers from transport planes after 17 fighters and bombers had raided the airport, killing 20 and wounding 40 persons. A transport of the Dutch Commercial Airlines was destroyed as it was preparing to take off.

The Japanese air forces were believed to have come from bases at Penang, captured stronghold off the western Malayan coast. If they succeed in establishing a foothold on Sumatra, it will make the first important penetration of Dutch territory.

There are rich oil fields in the area of the reported landings. But even more important is that successful landings would open up an air base on Singapore’s left flank.

Medan is 150 miles across the Strait of Malacca from central Malaya, and about 375 miles from Singapore.

12 Nippon transports reported sunk by Dutch

Manila, Philippines (UP) –
A correspondent of the Manila Herald today relayed an entirely unconfirmed report that 12 Japanese transports had been sunk by Dutch airplanes while attempting to land reinforcements at Davao, on Mindanao Island. The report was not substantiated by other reports received here.

The Japanese landed on Mindanao Island, 700 miles south of Luzon, more than a week ago in an effort to seize Davao, the main Japanese population center.

Since then, there have been few reports of progress of fighting on the island, although the Japanese were believed to have landed large reinforcements in an effort to take Davao.

252

Japs claim Ipoh, Kuching

British admit foe has swept south of tin-mining Malay city

Singapore (AP) –
The British acknowledged today that Japanese troops had swept south of Ipoh, Malaya, tin-mining city and communications center 290 miles north of Singapore, and announced the fall of Kuching, capital of Sarawak on the island of Borneo.

A headquarters communiqué said the British on the Perak front in Malaya are “in close contact with the enemy south of Ipoh,” but gave no further information.

Tokyo claims Ipoh

The Tokyo radio broadcast an Army announcement saying Ipoh had been in Japanese hands since about noon Sunday.

Elsewhere in Malaya, the situation remained unchanged, it was said.

On the east coast, at Kuantan, Japanese aircraft bombed and machine-gunned British positions, but no damage or casualties were reported.

253

U.S. subs sunk transport, supply ship

U.S. destroyer suffers damage in bombing, Navy says

Washington (UP) –
The Navy announced today in a communiqué that U.S. submarines have sunk a Japanese transport and a supply vessel and that a U.S. destroyer suffered slight damage from aerial bombing. The text of Communiqué No. 20, based on reports received up to 9:00 a.m. EST follows:

Far East.
U.S. submarines have sunk two additional ships of the enemy. One was a transport, the other a supply vessel.

During enemy air operations, one of our destroyers was attacked. Slight damage and minor casualties resulted.

Central Pacific.
Thirteen survivors of the SS PRUSA, torpedoed by an enemy submarine on December 18, have been rescued.

There is nothing to report from other areas.

Toll of Jap ships

The Navy’s disclosure of further successes by U.S. undersea craft followed the announcement last night that the fleet was not “idle” was was following a well-planned campaign that would result in “positive assistance” to the defense of the Philippine Islands.

So far, U.S. submarines have sunk four Japanese transports, a destroyer, a minesweeper and a supply vessel and probably another transport and a seaplane tender.

The attack on the destroyer brought the number of these vessels damaged by aerial bombing in the Far East to three in the past 48 hours. On Saturday, a Navy communiqué announced that two destroyers sustained minor damage in enemy bombing attacks but that there were no casualties.

254

SUICIDE SQUADS HALT FOE ON LUZON
Filipinos push enemy back in one sector

Fresh threat in south of island reported as foe lands reinforcements

Manila, Philippines (AP) –
“Suicide squads” of young Filipino soldiers were credited today with halting the first rush of the Japanese advance in northern Luzon and helping to drive back the invaders in at least one sector. But U.S. Army headquarters at the same time warned of a fresh threat in the south, where they said the Japanese were landing reinforcements.

Army advices otherwise were meager, simply reporting “no material change” in the north or south. An officer returned from the northern front said the Japanese appeared to be falling back from Tayug, 100 miles north of Manila and 20 miles inland from Lingayen Gulf, and a Manila Bulletin reporter back from the same sector told of the work of the “suicide squads.”

Bert Silen, NBC reporter in Manila, said eyewitnesses returning from the front reported the Japanese “in full retreat” in the province of Pangasinan, just south of Lingayen Gulf, with four towns recaptured out of the six they had occupied. In the south, Silen said, the defenders’ lines “are in excellent position… expected to hold the enemy in check.”

The young Filipinos, he said, had fought off the Japanese for at least 48 hours beginning Christmas morning, thus enabling the Army command to reorganize the main body of the defense forces and redispose them in more favorable terrain.

Rush before tanks

One tank commander told the reporter that:

During our many sallies into enemy territory, those Filipinos just rushed in front of our tanks to get at the Japs. Hell, what do they think our tanks are here for?

After the U.S. lines had been reestablished, the fighting settled down into long-range artillery exchanges, with frequent intense tank action in which the Japanese infantry, following up its tanks, was said to have lost heavily.

A fleet of Japanese transports in Lingayen Gulf, off the coast of the province of La Union, was reported driven off by American guns without even attempting any further landings.

Anti-aircraft guns at the front were reported to have brought down nine Japanese planes Saturday, and official advices said three were shot down Sunday.

In Manila, however, Japanese air raiders who swarmed over the city yesterday for the second successive day found no such opposition.

Set four major fires

Roaring in at low altitudes, at least five formations of nine planes each pounded the city savagely between 11:24 a.m. PHT (9:24 p.m. EST Saturday) and 1:26 p.m., loosing scores of bombs and setting at least four major fires.

At 4:22 p.m., Manila had another 46-minute alert when three more Japanese air raiders strafed suburban Camp Murphy – which had previously been evacuated – from a height of only 200 feet. The attackers did not fly over the city itself this time.

Though preliminary reports showed that Sunday morning’s attack injured only three persons and caused no fatalities, material damage was heavy.

The Philippine Treasury Building, badly damaged in Saturday’s three-hour-and-17-minute assault, was hit again. Also struck were old Fort Santiago, headquarters of the U.S. Army Engineers on an island in the Pasig River, the buildings of San Juan de Letran College adjoining Santo Domingo Church, which was destroyed yesterday, and the plant of the Manila Herald.

Schools hit

One bomb struck the Dunlop Tire Company building and others hit the Santa Rosa and Santa Catalina schools, starting a fire which swept through an entire block.

Bombs also fired the big Elizalde Rope Warehouse on the Pasig River, just back of the Escolta, Manila’s main business thoroughfare.

In a broadcast addressed to the Luzon population and heard last night in New York, High Commissioner Francis B. Sayre said Manilans had shown they could “take it as well as the people of London, Moscow or Chungking.”

Sayre said:

Help is surely coming – help of sufficient adequacy and power that the invader will be driven from our midst and he will be rendered powerless ever to threaten us again.

MacArthur communiqué

A communiqué issued from Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters last evening declared pointedly that:

Until Manila was declared an open city, it was noticeable the Japanese did not attempt to attack civilian installations from the air.

But as soon as the Army was withdrawn, including anti-aircraft protection, they immediately raided, hitting all types of civilian premises, including bridges, convents, churches, business houses and residences.

Despite this declaration, and a Tokyo radio announcement asserting the Japanese had no intention of recognizing Manila as an open city, there was no hint that authorities planned to restore Manila’s defenses.

On the contrary, MacArthur’s headquarters announced last evening that Manila would no longer be blacked out and the radio station was permitted to resume longwave broadcasts.

255

Manila girds against foe

MacArthur is bolstering forces northwest of Luzon’s capital

Washington (UP) –
Gen. Douglas MacArthur has consolidated most of his Philippine and U.S. forces northwest of Manila to make the best possible use of available men and material in a determined stand against heavily-reinforced Japanese invaders, the War Department reported today.

The announcement came almost simultaneously with a statement by White House Secretary Stephen T. Early that he did not believe President Roosevelt’s pledge last night that Philippine independence will be redeemed was meant to imply that the islands will be lost temporarily.

Early said in reply to an inquiry as to whether Roosevelt’s use of the word “redeem” meant that the Philippines were about to be lost, “No, I shouldn’t think so.”

Lines shortened

The Army report was in Communiqué No. 33, based on advices as of 9:30 a.m. EST.

It said MacArthur has shortened his lines and concentrated “the majority of his troops” in Pampanga Province.

The province is on the northern shore of Manila Bay and its southern boundary is only about 25 miles from the city of Manila. The northern boundary of this province is about 60 miles south of the Lingayen Gulf, scene of the heaviest Japanese landings.

The communiqué said U.S. and Filipino troops “are in high spirits and are offering stubborn resistance” against “heavy odds.”

It reported heavy losses on both sides and noted that the invading forces have been heavily reinforced in the last few days by several infantry divisions, tank regiments and horse cavalry.

It said:

Japanese units are composed of veteran soldiers with modern equipment.

The communiqué also took note of continued heavy enemy air activity and “repeated bombing of Manila in violation of the declaration of an open city.”

Early’s comment

In connection with the President’s message to the Philippine peoples, Early was reminded that some quarters interpreted it as a statement to prepare the public for loss of the islands.

He said:

I saw nothing in the statement to justify that.

He commented, however, that morning newspaper headlines seemed to him to stress “too much of the immediate rather than the ultimate,” and he observed that military operations to aid a distant point often require considerable time.

Philippine Resident Commissioner Joaquín M. Elizalde, in a shortwave broadcast, channeled to his embattled homeland, assured his countrymen that “help will be forthcoming.”

He said:

The United States is 100% with us in our struggle against the invader. All officials here are straining every sinew to support the battle line.

Elizalde praised President Roosevelt’s pledge of aid to the islands, and said it would do much to raise the hopes of the bomb-blasted populace as well as of the men in the frontlines.

Elizalde said:

My countrymen, you are fighting for freedom and for independence. You are fighting for your own future. Godspeed.

256

Retaliation raids on Japan urged

Manila, Philippines (UP) –
Japanese air squadrons lost a number of planes in a two-hour bombing attack on the fortress of Corregidor, guardian of Manila Bay, today, but avoided any new daylight attacks on the undefended city of Manila.

Demands for retaliatory bombing of Japanese cities swept the capital’s population tonight after the first bombless day since Christmas Eve.

The Japanese were apparently concentrating their air attack on the fortress – known as the Gibraltar of the Philippines – that lies about 30 miles from Manila in the center of the wide entrance to the bay.

There was no indication of an attempted invasion by sea of the Manila area.

The communiqué issued by U.S. headquarters said:

Corregidor was raided by Japanese planes today for two hours. A number of Japanese planes were shot down. There is no material change on any part of the two fronts [on land] today.

‘Can take it’

Angered but undismayed by two days of aerial attacks on civilians and historic old buildings in the walled city, the Filipinos were now confident that they “can take it,” but they are eager to strike back at the enemy.

Hope that U.S. bombers can strike at Tokyo and other Japanese cities in retaliation was expressed by all sections of the Manila population.

Morale was high as a result of the courage with which the people withstood the first salvage bombing attacks on their ancient churches and schools and as a result of promises from President Roosevelt and other American officials that help is coming.

2 air-raid alerts

In Manila, there had been two air-raid alerts during the morning, lasting about an hour each.

No Japanese bombers were seen over the city during the alerts although previously a silver Japanese pursuit plane could be seen over Manila, the symbols of the Rising Sun on its wingtips.

It flew low on reconnaissance, apparently inspecting damage to boats on the Pasig River. Some of the boats there were scuttled last night to remove them as bombing targets in this open and undefended city.

Inspection of the waterfront showed that two coastwise vessels in the Pasig and buildings near a shipbuilder’s plant and a ship in Manila Bay as well as some piers had been hit by bombs. Hits were also scored on San Juan de Letran College.

Pier 7 – said to be the longest covered pier in the world – was not damaged.

Pier 5 was hit and a midsection burned. The fire was still burning today although it was hit on Saturday. Pier 3 was also set afire at one end and two barges there were sunk.

Filipinos say Nazis posed as Americans

Manila, Philippines (UP) –
The Herald reported today that Filipino soldiers who fought at Damortis said they mistook German officers for Americans during the fighting. They said the Germans advanced ahead of Japanese troops and represented themselves as Americans.

They told the Filipino soldiers to go ahead, as the way was clear.

Before they knew it, they were being fired upon by the Japanese. The soldiers said they believed the Germans were officers of Japanese tank formations.

258

Jap fighters ‘fourth rate,’ cavalry colonel declares

By Clark Lee

With the USAFFE, central Luzon, Philippines (AP) –
In the opinion of one hard-bitten U.S. cavalry colonel, whose regiment has seen some sharp fighting in northern Luzon, the Japanese troops invading the Philippines are distinctly fourth-raters – and that, he says, is a charitable estimate.

The colonel contemptuously declared:

They’re no damned good on the ground. We licked the pants off them three times and were beaten only by their tanks and planes.

When our tanks and planes go into action, we’ll chase them back to the sea.

Those Charlies – we call them Charlies – can’t shoot. Somebody gets hit about every 5,000 shots. At Tayug, Christmas Day, we fought them for seven hours and they were firing all the time, making a wonderful display, lots of noise and wasting ammunition.

When it was all over, one of my men was hit in the hand and one horse was killed.

Tayug is about 100 miles north of Manila and 25 miles inland from the Lingayen Gulf.

At Binalonan [west of Tayug] the previous day, they surprise-attacked before dawn and cut us off from our horses. Our line of withdrawal was open, but we love horses, so we fought our way back to our bivouac. That scrap lasted five hours and ended when we busted their tank attack.

Two U.S. officers, whose names were withheld, were credited with playing an important part in smashing this attack at the price of their lives.

Victim of machine gun

One of the officers, a young lieutenant, took a supply of hand grenades and crawled down an exposed road toward the Japanese tanks. He had almost reached his objective when he was struck three times by machine-gun bullets. Though mortally wounded, he kept on and hurled his grenades.

A short time later, an American major and an unidentified driver operating a mounted 75mm cannon drove off the first few Japanese tanks and then charged down the road with its gun blazing. The leading Japanese tank was smashed by a direct hit, and the attack was halted. The major was killed, but the driver somehow escaped.

Filipino scouts, inspired by the action of the U.S. officers, rode in among the Japanese tanks flinging gasoline-filled bottles at them and completed the job of breaking up the attack, thus letting the main body of cavalry make an orderly withdrawal.

259

U.S. Navy Department (December 30, 1941)

Communiqué No. 21

Far East.
Submarine operations against enemy surface craft are continuing. Reports that a U.S. destroyer and two of our submarines were sunk in the period December 26-28 are without foundation.

Central Pacific.
The situation in respect to Midway Island remains unchanged. There have been no further attacks since last reported.

Eastern Pacific.
Japanese vessels are suspected of being in the vicinity of Kodiak. All merchant vessels have been warned.

There is nothing to report from other areas.

260

Reading Eagle (December 30, 1941)

JAPS FOUGHT TO STANDSTILL AT MANILA; SHIFT DATE OF FALL
Foe’s boast to take Luzon capital before New Year seen foiled

Nipponese war spokesmen now predict city’s capture previous to Jan. 10
By the Associated Press

A three-word bulletin from U.S. Army headquarters indicated today that Japan’s invasion armies had been fought to a standstill within 36 hours of the deadline of their boast that they would capture Manila “before New Year’s.”

From the nearest point, the invaders still had more than 50 miles to go to reach the Philippine capital.

Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters, in the briefest communiqué of the war, said:

Everything is quiet.

The bulletin was issued at 11:45 a.m. PHT.

Some observers expected that synchronized land and sea drive in Manila was imminent and that Japanese naval forces would attempt to silence the big guns of Corregidor Island fortress, at the entrance of Manila Harbor, then sail directly up the bay to the capital.

Manila dispatches said the two-hour aerial assault on Corregidor yesterday, in which four Japanese bombers were shot down, was generally regarded as the opening salvo in an attempt to reduce the fortress.

261

Date for fall changed

Tokyo, Japan (AP) –
A Japanese military spokesman declared today that operations in the Philippines were moving according to schedule and predicted the fall of Manila before Jan. 10. The Japs previously had forecast Manila’s capture before New Year’s.

At the same time, the spokesman warned that Calcutta or any other Far Eastern city would be bombed by the Japanese Air Force if it were converted into a supply base for the Chinese government at Chungking.

He issued the warning, he said, because of reports that plans were afoot to transfer Burma Road transportation facilities and personnel from Rangoon to Calcutta.

The Japanese Navy, meanwhile, issued a communiqué declaring that between Dec. 22 and 28, Japanese naval aircraft operating in the waters around Luzon had sunk one destroyer and two submarines and had damaged 76 merchant vessels, of which seven were left in sinking condition.

Japanese naval aircraft were also credited during the same period with destroying 56 planes in and around the Sulu and Celebes Seas and with destroying many hangars and airport facilities in British Borneo.

During these operations, the communiqué said, Japanese naval aircraft losses were only two planes.

Another bulletin said that 16 submarines had been sunk prior to Dec. 20 by Japanese naval vessels and aircraft patrolling the Southwestern Pacific.

262

MacArthur asks reprisal

Urges U.S. retaliatory measures be taken for Manila raids

Washington (AP) –
Gen. Douglas MacArthur urged today that retaliatory measures be taken against the Japanese for the recent bombings of Manila, which he characterized as “completely violative of all the civilized processes of international law.”

An official War Department communiqué said a survey of damage to:

…undefended Manila by the repeated senseless and savage bombing by Japanese aircraft indicates that churches and other centers of Christian worship and culture were deliberately selected as special targets for enemy attacks.

Lists cathedral

The damage, said the Department, extended to the great Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the historic College of San Juan Lateran, two convents, a hospital and at least five other churches and three colleges supported by religious institutions.

MacArthur’s message to the War Department said:

Enemy mercilessly bombed the open city of Manila using 63 bombers.

Damage has been severe and includes all types of civilian installations such as churches, the cathedral, hospitals, convents, business and private dwellings.

It is notable that before Manila was declared an open city and before our anti-aircraft defense evacuated therefrom, he [the enemy] had abstained from attempted bombing of anything in Manila except military installations.

His present actions can only be deemed completely violative of all the civilized processes of international law. At the proper time, I bespeak due retaliatory measures.

263

FLEET DRIVEN OFF
Coastal guns balk threat at bay entry

U.S. and Filipino forces make stonewall stand against invaders; Manila cherishes hope of reinforcements from Washington

Manila, Philippines (UP) –
A Japanese naval threat to Manila was reported today while U.S. and Philippine forces made a stonewall stand against vastly stronger Japanese invasion armies on the northern and southern Luzon fronts.

The Philippines Herald quoted reliable sources that, during a heavy Japanese airplane raid yesterday on the Corregidor Island fortress at the entrance to Manila Bay, Japanese warships attempted to approach but were driven off by coast defense guns.

It was believed, the newspaper said, that the Japanese ships were making a test of the island’s strength with a view to a possible big-scale attack from sea as well as land and air.

Manila’s hope rises

There was a sudden surge of optimism in Manila, and hope rose that help was coming from the United States.

Completely unconfirmed reports of the arrival, or imminent arrival, of reinforcements swept the city. Regardless of these, such statements as the one that the Navy was not idle, and the assurances of President Roosevelt, caused a general public feeling that the effect of American strength would be felt soon in the rice fields of Pangasinan, in the north, and the coconut groves of Tayabas in the south.

President Manuel L. Quezon and Vice President Sergio Osmeña were inaugurated at an informal ceremony at their secret headquarters in the interior today for a second term.

Sayre reads message

U.S. High Commissioner Francis B. Sayre, speaking at the ceremony, read a congratulatory message from President Roosevelt and said, on his own behalf, that the United States and the Philippines had become brothers in bloodshed for the defense of their common ideals. The comradeship, he said, could never die.

He said:

The real struggle is only beginning, and there can be no question whatsoever of its ultimate outcome.

Dispatches from the fighting front, though they did not minimize the tremendous handicap under which U.S. and Philippine forces were fighting, said that the Japanese, despite repeated attacks made at heavy cost, had failed to gain a single inch in the last 24 hours on either the Lingayen front, to the north of Manila, or the Atimonan front, to the south.

Confidence increasing

Reports reaching Manila said the confidence of all defense forces was increasing and that, man for man, the Americans and Filipinos were vastly superior to the Japanese. These reports continued to say, in contradiction of official information, that the Japanese were using many raw troops.

It was said especially that, raw or seasoned, the Japanese had proved no match for the defense forces in hand-to-hand fighting.

Today was a great national Philippine holiday, and it went unobserved, because of the war and the constant threat that Japanese planes would again bomb the defenseless capital as they had done Saturday and Sunday. It was the 45th anniversary of the execution by the Spaniards of the hero, Dr. José Rizal, who inspired the revolution, and usually it is marked by parades, fireworks and patriotic speeches.

Also, it was the day that President Quezon and Vice President Osmeña started their new four-year terms in office.

Official reports that in bombing Corregidor, the almost-impregnable fortress island 30 miles out at the mouth of Manila Bay, the Japanese had lost at least four planes, added to the more optimistic atmosphere.

Saw 27 Jap planes

Watchers ashore had seen a fleet of 27 Japanese planes fly out for the bombing, and had watched 23 return.

Reports were received from the north that a Japanese attempt to bomb two railroad bridges near Calumpit, 27 miles north of Manila, had failed completely. Demolition bombs dropped by the Japanese fell short. One of them struck a wing of the Calumpit sugar plant and wounded four workers.

Multiplying reports of Japanese inaccuracy in bombing anything but undefended civilian targets led to belief that the Corregidor attack, though the heaviest yet on the island, had done little damage.

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Churchill sees victory

Pledges fight will go on, whatever the odds, in speech at Ottawa

Ottawa, Canada (AP) –
The Prime Minister of Britain reported to the Canadian people today on the free nations’ war against the Axis.

Standing before Canada’s leaders in the green chamber of the House of Commons, Winston Churchill pledged the fight would go on, whatever the odds, until the united efforts of the free peoples of the world were crowned with victory.

Crowded into the Commons chamber was a colorful gathering of senators, members of Commons, high service officers and other dignitaries eager to see and gear in person the man who leads the empire to war.

Hundreds more stood outside the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in the crisp but sunshiny afternoon.

Introduces Churchill

Canada’s Prime Minister W. L. Mackenzie King, introducing Churchill, called him “the personification of Britain’s greatness.”

King declared:

That greatness was never more apparent than in this time of gravest crisis in the history of the world.

Asserting he spoke for all Canada, the Prime Minister declared Canadians:

…are unreservedly determined to maintain our stand at Britain’s side and at the side of the other nations that fight for freedom… until the day of ultimate triumph over the evil forces that now seek to dominate the world.

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265

Japs bomb Singapore

Bombers hit key points of Malay Peninsula; troops loss heavy

Singapore (UP) –
Japanese planes opened a furious assault on Singapore and key points of the Malay Peninsula today as Japanese ground forces attacked heavily, and at heavy cost, on the Perak River line 300 miles north of this island.

Singapore, raid free since the first days of the Pacific War, was attacked four times by Japanese planes during the night.

A communiqué of the Malaya Command, said some damage was done to thatched buildings and fire in these buildings ignited a small gasoline store. Only four casualties were reported.

Jap losses enormous

It was asserted that the Japanese had suffered enormous casualties in an attack on the Perak River line and elsewhere, it was added, the situation was unchanged.

The Japanese claimed the fall of Ipoh, the tin center on the Perak River front, and the Malaya Command had admitted Japanese penetration south of Ipoh. London, reporting that outnumbered British Empire troops were fighting doggedly against odds, suggested that the Japanese had almost surrounded, but might not have taken, Ipoh.

London also reported that two officers of the Chinese Army were in Singapore, discussing joint Allied strategy and tactics. There have been suggestions that China might send troops to Burma.

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Jap Diet to meet

Berlin, Germany (official radio received by AP) –
Advices from Tokyo today said that the Japanese Diet would meet in special session tomorrow.

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