Japan ist entschlossen, diesem Spiel ein für allemal ein Ende zu setzen und Leben und Ehre gegen die vernichtungswütigen Feinde zu verteidigen, die sich nach allen Seiten hin als Weltdiktatoren aufspielen und damit nur den jungen Völkern der Erde ihre Schicksalsgemeinschaft im Kampf gegen England und Nordamerika nachdrücklich vor Augen gestellt haben. Im Dreimächtepakt wurde das neue Lebensprinzip einer gewandelten und geläuterten Welt festgestellt: stark geführte und wirtschaftlich gesicherte Großräume mit reichem Eigenleben der Völker, die in ihnen zusammenarbeiten.
Es ist der tiefste Sinn dieses Krieges, dass diese zukunftweisende Schau einer naturgemäßen Ordnung sich gegen die Verfechter jenes rein materialistischen Imperialismus durchsetzt, der die ganze Welt Verschlingen unter das Joch des Geldes zwingen und entehren möchte und der nun auch den pazifischen Raum zum Kriegsschauplatz gemacht hat.
Churchill ergeht sich in vorsichtigen Andeutungen –
‚Der US-Nachschub wird ausbleiben‘
Eigener Bericht des „Völkischen Beobachters“
dr. th. b. Stockholm, 9. Dezember – Die Stimmung in London ist, wie sich denken lässt durch den Kriegseintritt Japans nicht besser geworden. Das englische Volk ist sich sehr wohl bewusst, was für England die Einbeziehung des Fernen Ostens in den Krieg bedeutet und nach ihren ersten recht unbekümmerten Äußerungen warnt die Londoner Presse jetzt sehr energisch vor übertriebenem Optimismus.
Niemand in London so fasst der Vertreter der Dagens Nyheter in der britischen Hauptstadt seine Eindrücke zusammen gebe sich der Illusion hin, dass der Kampf gegen Japan für die britisch-amerikanischen Streitkräfte ein Tanz auf Rosen sein werde. Zwar habe England den Tag kaum erwarten können, an dem die USA offen in den Krieg eintreten würden doch habe man nicht gewünscht, dass gleichzeitig Japan als neuer Gegner auf den Plan trete. Man erwartet – nach der angegebenen schwedischen Quelle – in England eine Steigerung der amerikanischen Rüstungsproduktion, die erst im Zeichen des offenen Krieges auf volle Touren gebracht werden könne. In gutunterrichteten Kreisen Londons sähe man jedoch ein, dass Amerika nunmehr einen großen Teil des Kriegsmaterials, das bisher nach England gegangen sei, für sich benötigen Werde Gleichzeitig sei natürlich auch das auf dem Papier so großzügig geplante Unterstützungsprogramm für die Sowjets hinfällig geworden.
Eine ‚harte Schlacht‘
Selbst Churchill hielt es für zweckmäßig, in einer Rundfunkansprache an das englische Volk diese Punkte vor sichtig anzudeuten. Mehr denn je, so erklärte er müsse das englische Volk sich um Steigerung seiner eigenen Rüstungskraft bemühen, besonders die Fabrikation von Flugzeugen müsse in Schwung gebracht werden. Diese seien infolge der jetzigen Kriegsausdehnung notwendiger denn je. Es werde sicher eine harte Schlacht für England und seinen Verbünden werden.
Auch der Londoner Rundfunk bemerkte in einer allgemeinen Betrachtung zur Kriegslage der japanische Angriff werde „zumindest für einige Monate“ eine erhöhte Belastung der amerikanischen Flottenverbände mit sich bringen und „die Offenhaltung der Seewege“ erschweren.
Bei der Neigung der Engländer zur Schreibtischstrategie fehlt es nicht an Leuten, die sich den Kopf über die strategischen Pläne Japans zerbrechen. Man glaubt in London annehmen zu können, dass die Japaner einen raschen Durchbruch nach Niederländisch-Indien vorhaben, um sich die für ihre Kriegsindustrie wichtigen Rohstoffgebiete zu sichern.
Die Verantwortlichen
Englischer Oberbefehlshaber in Singapur ist der nunmehr 62-jährige Luftmarschall Sir Robert Brooke-Popham. Seine Ernennung auf diesen wichtigen Platz erregte seiner Zeit nicht geringe Überraschung, da herkömmlicherweise ein Admiral auf dem wichtigen Posten in Singapur stand.
Befehlshaber der britischen Fernostflotte ist der Vizeadmiral Sir Thomas Phillips, der früher einen hohen Posten in der Admiralität bekleidete. Ob die Anwesenheit Duff Coopers, der als politischer Beauftragter Churchills im Fernen Osten herumgeistert einen Gewinn für England darstellt, dürften die Briten selbst nach ihren Erfahrungen mit diesem ebenso eitlen wie unbedeutendem Manne bezweifeln.
Jedenfalls ist man sich in England über die Schwierigkeit klar die unendlich langen Verbindungslinien im Pazifik, im Indischen Ozean und in der Südsee gegen die japanische Flotte zu sichern und offenzuhalten. Man unterschätzt nicht die ausgedehnten Möglichkeiten, die sich hier japanischen Handelsstörern darbieten, und vermutet, dass die japanische Marine Schiffstypen entwickelt hat die besonders auf diese Aufgabe zugeschnitten sind.
US-Kongress beschließt den Krieg
tc. Washington, 9. Dezember – Das Repräsentantenhaus und der Senat stimmten am Montag über eine gemeinsame Resolution ab, in der in aller Form der Kriegszustand der USA mit Japan erklärt wird. Sowohl das Repräsentantenhaus als auch der Senat haben die Resolution angenommen.
Im Senat war das Abstimmungsergebnis 80-0. Da der Senat 96 Mitglieder hat und fast alle anwesend waren, ist dem Abstimmungsergebnis zu entnehmen, dass sich ein Teil der Senatoren der Abstimmung enthalten hat.
San Franzisko hatte Alarm
Eigener Bericht des „VB.“
rd. Stockholm, 9. Dezember – San Franzisko hatte in der Nacht zum Dienstag den ersten Luftalarm. Er wurde nach einiger Zeit abgeblasen, und die Behörden erklärten, es habe sich nur um einen „Probealarm“ gehandelt. Die Bevölkerung hörte aber die eigenen Abwehrstaffeln starten, und es waren zahlreiche Gerüchte über die Annäherung einer großen Zahl unbekannter Flugzeuge verbreitet.
In Washington wurde ärgerlich erklärt, es lägen keine Anzeichen für irgendwelche geplanten Angriffe gegen die Westküste vor. Viele Städte und Häfen in den USA wurden jedoch bereits in der Nacht zum Dienstag erstmalig verdunkelt, vor allem in Kalifornien, darunter Long Beach und auch San Franzisko.
LaGuardia erließ in Neuyork eine neue Warnung. Entfernung bedeute keinen Schutz. Die Atlantik-Küste sei genauso in Gefahr wie Honolulu. Und jede Familie müsse einen Luftschutzwart ernennen.
Kurusu kann nicht abreisen
Im ganzen US-Gebiet werden massenhaft Japaner verhaftet. Dem japanischen Sonderbeauftragten Kurusu wurde die Abreise im Flugzeug verweigert unter der Angabe, dass keine japanischen Staatsangehörigen damit transportiert werden dürften.
Finanzminister Morgenthau hat die Schließung aller japanischen Banken und Unternehmungen sowie völlige Ausfuhrsperre nach allen japanischen oder durch Japan kontrollierten Gebieten angeordnet.
Die Vereinigten Staaten haben durch Mobilmachung aller Reservisten 1,6 Millionen Mann unter die Fahnen gerufen.
Tokio garantiert Thailands Unabhängigkeit –
Japaner in Bangkok einmarschiert
dnb. Tokio, 9. Dezember (Ostasiendienst) – Wie die Agentur Domei aus Bangkok meldet, sind die in Thailand vorrückenden japanischen Truppen am 8. Dezember, kurz nach 21 Uhr, in Bangkok einmarschiert. Der Einmarsch, der bereits am Montagnachmittag begann, erfolgte, nachdem es zwischen Japan und Thailand über das Durchmarschrecht der japanischen Truppen durch Thailand zu einer Einigung gekommen war.
London behauptet zwar noch immer, in Unkenntnis über die Abmachung zwischen Tokio und Bangkok zu sein, es kann aber nichts an der Tatsache ändern, dass der von England erhoffte und von Churchill ausdrücklich geforderte Kampf Thailands gegen Japan ausgeblieben ist.
Japanische Truppen haben, wie die japanische Botschaft aus Bangkok bekanntgibt, englische Streitkräfte zurückgeschlagen, die versuchten, von Burma her nach Thailand einzufallen. Der japanische Einmarsch geht ohne Aufenthalt weiter. Die Operationen zum Schutze Thailands erstreckten sich bisher auf eine Landung längs der Ostküste der Malaiischen Halbinsel, wo einer Meldung aus Bangkok zufolge japanische Einheiten in unmittelbarer Nähe der Straits Settlements in Patani, Songkla und Prachuabkirkan gelandet sind‚ ferner auf den Einmarsch in Mittelthailand von Siemrap aus und schließlich auf einen Vorstoß nach Nordthailand, wo einer Meldung aus Manila zufolge starke japanische Einheiten die Grenze westwärts in Richtung auf die Burmastraße überschritten haben.
Japan hat – so meldet der Nachrichtendienst des Senders Saigon – Thailand offiziell aufgefordert, sich an der Errichtung der Neuordnung Ostasiens zu beteiligen und hat Thailands Unabhängigkeit garantiert.
Mandschukuo im Kriegszustand
dnb. Schanghai, 9. Dezember – Der japanische General Hata und Geschäftsträger Hidaka übermittelten am Montag dem Staatspräsidenten Wangtschingwei die japanische Entscheidung über den Kriegszustand mit den USA und England.
Wangtschingwei berief daraufhin eine Sondersitzung des politischen Zentralrates ein in der er über die neue Lage berichtete. Er gab den Japanern die Versicherung engster Zusammenarbeit und selbst unter den schwierigsten Umständen entsprechend den Vertragsverpflichtungen Hilfe in jeder Form zu leisten. Das nördliche und das südliche Ostasien werden sich vereinigen, um die englisch-nordamerikanischen Mächte aus dem Fernen Osten zu vertreiben, erklärte Ministerpräsident Tschang Tsching Hui der Presse. Der Kaiser hat eine Verordnung erlassen, durch die der Kriegszustand mit Nordamerika und Großbritannien proklamiert wurde.
So schloss der Ministerpräsident, „Wir schwören hiermit zusammen mit Japan in diesem heiligen Krieg mit Leib und Seele, mit Material und Taten zu kämpfen.“
U.S. War Department (December 10, 1941)
Communiqué No. 1
Information received last night from the Commanding General, Far East Command, reveals the defeat of a hostile attack against the west coast of Luzon between San Fernando and Vigan.
Our first bombing attacks on six transports at Vigan resulted in direct hits on three hostile ships and damage to the remaining three, one ship capsizing and sinking immediately.
The Navy air force participated in the attack in close cooperation with the Army. No operations have as yet materialized in the southern islands.
Communiqué No. 2
Philippine Theater.
Reports from the Far East Command indicate a definite attempt of the enemy to invade the island of Luzon. Initial Japanese attacks against the west coast of Luzon north of San Fernando were repulsed with apparently heavy enemy losses. Actual landings were effected along the northern coast of Luzon. The Japanese attacks are in considerable strength and are supported by heavy naval forces. Military and naval installations on Luzon have been subject to intermittent Japanese air attacks throughout the day, that on the naval base at Cavite being particularly heavy.
Hawaii.
No action has been reported in this area since the initial attack on December 7.
West Coast.
The Commanding General, IX Corps Area, reports that the Washington State Police last night found and extinguished a series of fires neat Port Angeles, Washington. These fires were in the form of arrows pointed toward Seattle. Search is being made for fifth columnists.
General.
Steps to augment the defenses of both the East and West Coasts commenced Sunday night when the War Department placed plans in effect which have materially strengthened the forces already stationed in those areas. The railroads aided greatly in the movement of troops and material, operating through trains to destinations on emergency schedules. In addition to the ground troops moved, the Air Force has completed a redistribution of air units which has placed it in a position to meet any threat on both the East and West Coasts.
U.S. Navy Department (December 10, 1941)
Communiqué No. 1
The Navy Department announces that instructions have been issued that the remains of naval personnel, including Coast Guard and Marine Corps, lost in action be interred temporarily in the localities in which they lost their lives. This procedure is necessitated by the difficulties of ocean transport in war. They will be buried with full military honors.
U.S. State Department (December 10, 1941)
740.0011 Pacific War/946: Telegram
The Ambassador in Uruguay to the Secretary of State
Montevideo, December 10, 1941
[Received December 10 — 10:30 a.m.]
530
Last evening Uruguayan Senate voted to send brief telegram informing United States Senate that invoking principles of international justice and humanity Uruguayan Senate condemns aggression of which United States has been the object.
Herrerista Senators were in majority and message as approved was that proposed by them after more strongly worded Colorado text had been defeated.
DAWSON
740.0011 Pacific War/1086
Memorandum by the Adviser on Political Relations
Washington, December 10, 1941
Reference: MR. WELLES’ MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION WITH DR. T. V. SOONG DECEMBER 9.
Mr. Welles called me in last evening and, in my presence, telephoned to Dr. Soong.
My understanding of what Mr. Welles said to Dr. Soong was that he, Mr. Welles, had spoken with the President; that the President did not take at face value the views expressed by the Russian Military Attaché in Chungking to Chiang Kai-shek, as recorded; and that the President felt that the Chinese Government should go ahead with a declaration of war (upon the Axis powers).
STANLEY K. HORNBECK
The Pittsburgh Press (December 10, 1941)
Beware of dame rumor –
News vs. reportsIf The Pittsburgh Press errs in reporting the U.S.-Japanese war, we hope it will be on the side of conservatism.
Inevitably, there will be many rumors and reports. Some may be true; the majority will undoubtedly prove to be untrue.
Difficulties of censorship, communications and verification make it very hard to check up on rumors and reports.
Often the Press will print an unverified story, but in such cases, we will try to explain that it is not verified. This will not mean it is untrue, but simply that the truth has not been established.
Unconfirmed rumors or reports should not be accepted as fact. They may be true (for which reason it is necessary to print them), but in many cases, they may prove to be untrue.
We will try not to emphasize or use large headlines on stories which have not been definitely established or officially announced.
The Press printed the story of the San Francisco blackout and “alerts” with an explanation that there was considerable doubt about what caused the alarms.
When stories came yesterday afternoon that enemy planes were reported to be approaching New York and the East Coast, we used a bulletin stating that there was such a report but DID NOT change our headlines because it was so doubtful. Later, the New York alarm proved to be a mistake.
The task of covering a war on such a vast scale, with much of the world closed by censorship and colored by propaganda, is so great that errors are inevitable. However, we will strive to be accurate and conservative, and to err on the side of understatement rather than overstatement.
U.S.-JAP BATTLE ON LUZON
Planes score hits on three invading ships
Nipponese troops gain foothold on northern coast, Manila reports
WASHNGTON (UP) – War Department Communiqué No. 1 of the U.S.-Japanese war announced today that U.S. Army and Navy forces had repulsed a Japanese landing attempt on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. This is the main island on which Manila is situated.
The communiqué was the first to be issued by the War Department and was based on a report last night from Lt. Gen. Douglas A. MacArthur, chief of the U.S. Army Far East Command.
News dispatches directly from Manila today related, however, that new Japanese landings were in progress on a 150-mile stretch of the northwest and northern coasts of Luzon.
The communiqué announced that Army and Navy bombers had scored direct hits on three Japanese ships and that three other ships were also damaged. One ship capsized and sank immediately, the communiqué said.
Southern group safe
The communiqué stated that, thus far, there had been no Japanese attacks on the southern groups of islands of the archipelago.
The text of the communiqué:
Information received last night from the Commanding General, Far East Command, reveals the defeat of a hostile attack against the west coast of Luzon between San Fernando and Vigan.
Our first bombing attacks on six transports at Vigan resulted in direct hits on three hostile ships and damage to the remaining three, one ship capsizing and sinking immediately.
The Navy air force participated in the attack in close cooperation with the Army. No operations have as yet materialized in the southern islands.
The communiqué did not reveal the size of the Japanese forces that attempted the landing.
The scene of the fighting is not far from the Japanese island of Formosa. It is likely that the forces may have embarked from there, although no hint was given in the communiqués.
Japanese claims offset
The fact that the communiqué said there were no operations reported in the southern Philippine Islands was taken as an offset to the Japanese claims that operations are underway at Davao.
The communiqué was issued directly by the War Department to waiting newspapermen in the Army offices, instead of being released through the White House, which has handled war news previously.
White House Secretary Stephen T. Early said that henceforth the War and Navy Departments would handle most of the news about their operations.
Japs strike again on northern coast
By Frank Hewlett, United Press staff writer
Where Japanese invasion was thwarted
Today’s “hot spots” in the Philippines are shown above. While invading troops were reported to have landed on a 150-mile front on the north coast of Luzon, an invasion attempt on the west coast south of Vigan was repulsed by the U.S. Army.
MANILA, Philippines – A Japanese expeditionary force today fought through a rain of American bombs to consolidate a foothold on the coast of Luzon Island for an invasion of the Philippines.
U.S. bombers rained high explosives on Japanese landing transports, sinking or damaging at least three. The Japanese Air Force countered by sending flight after flight of silver-colored bombers high over Manila to attack key American air and naval bases around the capital.
Tokyo claimed Japanese forces also landed in Guam this morning. The Japanese landings in Guam and Luzon were the first invasion of American soil by sea since the British landings in the War of 1812.
Japanese landing operations were being attempted along a 150-mile stretch of Luzon’s northwest and north coasts. Japanese forces were ashore at Aparri on the north coast.
By midday, Manila had passed through four air attacks, centering, as have all previous attacks, on Army, Navy, and Air Force objectives.
A United Press correspondent counted at least 57 Japanese planes apparently passing over Manila at altitudes of 12,000-15,000 feet.
Two Japanese bombers and one Japanese fighter plane were reported brought down.
Perfect formation
The Japanese planes flew over Manila in perfect formation, their silver wings blending with the sky. The city proper escaped damage, but what were described as “a few costly blows” were scored by the Japanese attackers on U.S. military objectives.
American anti-aircraft guns hammered away at the attackers, but this correspondent, watching the raids from the eight-story Wilson Building in the heart of the city, saw no bombers fall. The planes were flying at about 15,000 feet and it appeared that the anti-aircraft fire was falling short.
Airfield hit again
The Japanese again bombed Nichols Field, the Army base on the outskirts of Manila. Flames and heavy black smoke were seen in the vicinity of the air base. Another fire was seen a few miles east of the Navy’s powerful Cavite Base. One fire started in the Cavite area but burned only a few minutes.
One Japanese plane (and possibly more) was downed at Pasay on Manila’s southern outskirts and another in Tondo, a poor section of the city. A Japanese fighter was brought down over Quezon City, reportedly by a Filipino fighter pilot.
Evacuation ordered
American officials said that because of attacks on the Nichols Field area, it had been decided to evacuate the Paranaque district, adjoining the air base. About 10,000 persons live in Paranaque.
The Japanese have succeeded in landing a number of men at Aparri on the north coast and possibly at other points in the area, it was announced, and are seeking to land men at Vigan on the northwest coast.
Official statement
Army spokesman Maj. LeGrande A. Diller made the announcement in a statement which he asked correspondents to transmit without elaboration or interpretation. It said:
The enemy is in heavy force off the north coast of Luzon from Vigan to Aparri.
Large Japanese naval elements are escorting transports with Japanese air support at Vigan.
At about 7:30 a.m. (6:30 p.m. Tuesday EST), six transports were engaged in landing operations.
At that time, our bombing attack on these ships created grave damage. Three transports were directly hit, one immediately capsizing. Bombs were observed hitting close to the other three.
At Aparri and perhaps other contiguous points, landings were effected, but the exact strengths are unknown.
‘Japanese’ bounced from stores here
Pittsburgh’s stores swept anything with a “Made in Japan” label off their counters today in an all-out toss-out of the objectionable Japs.
G. P. DeFrehn, president of the Chair Store Council, said most of the downtown stores have already bounced their Jap trinkets and said his own SS Kresge store worked until last midnight to clean out everything from the Far East – novelties, chinaware, toys, and favors.
Among the other stores making sure that Santa will not have anything objectionable in his Christmas pack were C. C. Murphy, McCrory’s, and W. T. Grant.
Jap goods are at a minimum anyway, some of the store managers said, because of the moral boycott of the last two years. Mr. DeFrehn added that American toys are a lot better and less expensive too.
WAR BULLETINS!
Nazis report sinking of HMS King George V
BERLIN, Germany – The official news agency said in a Tokyo dispatch today that it was “almost certain” that Britain’s new 35,000-ton battleship HMS King George V had been sunk.
The official German agency report was received with considerable skepticism because the battleship is the same type as HMS Prince of Wales, which London acknowledged had been sunk off Malaya. It was suggested that the German dispatch had confused the two vessels, perhaps deliberately. There had been no indication that HMS King George was in the Far East. Official sources in London refused to comment.
Japs: U.S. supply lines cut
SAN FRANCISCO, California – A Japanese government broadcast heard by a United Press listening post here today claimed that the Japanese blitzkrieg attack in the Pacific had cut U.S. supply routes to Asia and said, “Japan is now prepared to concentrate on her Co-Prosperity Sphere in East Asia.”
Japs held near Singapore
SINGAPORE – An official communiqué today reported that British forces have reformed their lines south of the strategic airdrome of Kota Bharu, 375 miles north of Singapore, and elsewhere are holding off the Japanese firmly.
Liner arrives safely from Hawaii
SAN FRANCISCO, California – The Matson liner SS Lurline, which was less than 1,000 miles out of Honolulu when the Japanese attacked Oahu Sunday, arrived here today after a nerve-wracking zigzag dash at full speed. Its 500 passengers, most of them Navy wives and children, showed relief at arriving safely.
Canadian corvette sunk
OTTAWA, Canada – The Canadian corvette HMCS Windflower has been sunk as the result of a collision while on convoy duty, it was officially announced today.
Japan claims 300 U.S. planes destroyed
MANILA, Philippines – The Japanese Domei News Agency broadcast from Tokyo today that it was understood Japanese naval forces attacking U.S. air bases in various parts of the Pacific had destroyed more than 300 U.S. planes, including 40 Boeing Flying Fortresses and 30 other long-range bombers.
Navy goes on seven-day week
WASHINGTON – Under Secretary of the Navy James V. Forrestal today ordered the Navy Department on a seven-day week.
Roosevelt meets War Cabinet
WASHINGTON – President Roosevelt today conferred with his War Cabinet: Secretary of State Cordell Hull, Under Secretary of State Sumner Welles, Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, Under Secretary of the Navy James V. Forrestal, Army Chief of Staff Gen. George C. Marshall, and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Harold R. Stark. Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox is out of town.
Many lives lost on two battleships
NEW YORK – Alfred Duff-Cooper, British coordinator in the Far East, broadcast from Singapore today that there was considerable loss of lives in the sinkings of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, the CBS listening post reported.
Smuts sees Japs’ downfall
CAPE TOWN, South Africa – South African Premier J. C. Smuts predicted in an address last night that 1942 would see Japan’s downfall. “I know the stuff of which Americans are made,” he said.
Darlan confers with Count Ciano
VICHY, France – A communiqué said today that Vice Premier Adm. Jean Darlan had conferred with Italian Foreign Minister Count Galeazzo Ciano at Turin, Italy. The announcement said Darlan left Vichy Monday night for the Turin conference.
Exchange of U.S.-Jap nationals likely
LOS ANGELES, California – The United States, through mediation of a neutral European country, has proposed to Japan the exchange of nationals in each country, Radio Tokyo said today in a broadcast heard by NBC.
Japs say Russia will stay out
LOS ANGELES, California – The Tokyo radio said today in a broadcast heard by NBC that Vice Foreign Commissar S. A. Lozovsky of Russia had issued a statement saying there would be “no change in relations” between Russia and Japan as the result of the declaration of war between the United States and the Japanese Empire.
King confident, Malaya told
SINGAPORE – Gov. Sir Shenton Thomas of British Malaya received a message of confidence from King George today, declaring that “fearless determination to crush this onslaught” will eventually be justified.
Batavia has air alarm
BATAVIA, Dutch East Indies – The official Aneta (Dutch) News Agency reported an air alarm here from 9:30 p.m. to 11:15 p.m. (9:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. EST). There was no immediate report whether enemy planes were sighted.
Berlin reports greatest naval battle
LONDON, England – Radio Berlin, quoting a German official spokesman, said today that the greatest naval battle in history was now in progress in the Pacific.
The Berlin radio quoted a German spokesman:
It’s too early yet to say that Britain and the United States have been forced on the defensive, but the danger of encirclement of the Japanese islands has been eliminated and the pressure on Japan has slackened.
Romania asked for more men
NEW YORK – Private advices received by the United States today said Germany recently asked Romania to send 500,000 men to the Eastern Front after the Russian victory at Rostov.
Isle near Australia bombed
MELBOURNE, Australia – A Japanese plane today bombed the island of Nauru, northeast of Australia, for the third successive day.
Japs gain at Hong Kong
LONDON, England – The Exchange Telegraph Agency reported from Hong Kong today that Japanese troops had penetrated some of the forward defenses of the British Crown colony. Hong Kong reports said that a heavy Japanese attack had been halted momentarily, but that fighting was continuing.
FBI arrests 86 aliens
BOSTON, Massachusetts – FBI agents have arrested 84 German and Italian aliens in New England because their presence is considered a “menace to the United States,” and seized two of three Japanese students at Harvard College, it was announced today.
Japs shell Hong Kong docks
CHUNGKING, China – Usually-reliable sources reported today that the Japanese had shelled the dock areas of Hong Kong.
Defense guards fire at Canadian planes
FORT WORTH, Texas (UP) – The commanding officer of three Canadian patrol bombers en route from Ontario to Vancouver via the Atlantic Seaboard said today that his formation of Vickers bombers “was fired on.”
He did not reveal where the firing occurred or when. But he telegraphed the San Pedro Air Base in California of his movement “in case civilian spotters might get jittery.”
Capt. C. C. Thomas indicated the shots were fired by civilian defense guards from the ground and said that bullets hit the planes. He refused more specific information, however, and would not let reporters inspect the planes. The flight was resumed this morning.
The Vickers bombers are twin-engined, unarmed ships with a 1,500-mile range. They are relatively slow.
Capt. Thomas was concerned lest the “foreign marking” of the Royal Canadian Air Force spread confusion.
The bombers left Ontario Monday, arriving on the Lake Worth Seaplane Base via Pensacola, Florida.
