'BRITISH WARSHIPS IN ACTION' REPORT

Reported on Monday December 8, 1941 by the Daily Mail.

Japan to-night declared war on Britain and the United States after launching full-scale naval and air attacks on two of America's main bases in the Pacific - Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii and Guam, between Hawaii and the Philippine Islands. Already the Dutch East Indies have announced themselves at war with Japan, and the formal British and American declarations are expected in a matter of hours.

Official US Navy Photo

Quickly recovering from the first attacks, American warships steamed out of Pearl Harbor, and it was later reported that a Japanese aircraft-carrier had been sunk. Four Japanese submarines and six aircraft are also said to have been destroyed.

The Columbia Broadcasting System claims to have picked up a message saying that two British cruisers were sunk by Japanese planes attacking Singapore. This report is completely without confirmation.

Another message, equally without support but well within the bounds of possibility, is that Japanese warships have been engaged by British and American naval units in the Western Pacific.

This report emanates from the Tokyo correspondent of a Japanese newspaper in Shanghai quoting an announcement by Imperial Headquarters.

Early reports that Manila, the American base in the Philippine Islands, had been raided were followed by messages that all is quiet there, apart from aircraft taking off either on reconnaissance or to engage Japanese shipping.

OFFICIAL DEATH-ROLL

By far the heaviest onslaughts were on the air and naval establishments at Hawaii. Three waves of 50 aircraft - apparently operating from at least three aircraft carriers - set fire to the battleship Oklahoma in Pearl Harbor and caused heavy casualties at Hickman Field Aerodrome. The Japanese claim that the Oklahoma was sunk.

To-night it was officially announced that military casualties alone totaled 104 killed and 300 wounded on the Island of Oahu, where both Pearl Harbor and Hickman Field are situated. Civilian casualties are believed to be high.

Bombing raids are reported to have been followed by parachute troops, but no details of this attack are available beyond a broadcast from Honolulu that the Army and Navy appeared to have the situation in hand.

According to Washington, Japanese submarines which "appear to be strung out between Hawaii and the American coast," have already claimed a United States transport and another ship. The transport was carrying "lumber rather than men." Anti-aircraft guns roared into action as the first wave of bombers appeared over Oahu. Three aircraft were shot down. More waves followed swiftly, and United States fighters were soon in action. People cheered as the fleet steamed out.

Bombs dropped on Honolulu, world-famed holiday resort. Seven people were killed and many injured. Later the White House announced that heavy damage had been caused.

Two raiders were shot down in the Honolulu area. Among those killed were two Japanese. Honolulu is only a few miles from Pearl Harbor.

Waihaiwa, 20 miles north-west of Honolulu, was made a special target by the raiders, who, swooped low and machine-gunned the streets, killing or wounding many civilians.

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