U.S. LOSSES AT OAHU

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23514, 17 December 1941, Page 7

U.S. LOSSES AT OAHU

Six Vessels Sunk

ONE BATTLESHIP INCLUDED

(Received December 16, 1.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, December 15. The Secretary of the United States Navy (Colonel Frank Knox) In his report to Mr Roosevelt, after his visit to Hawaii, said that one United States battleship and five other warships were lost in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, in Oahu. The battleship was the Arizona (32,600 tons), which was launched in 1915. Three of the other vessels were destroyers and the remaining two were smaller ships. One of them was the training vessel Utah. . A number of other vessels were damaged, including the battleship Oklahoma. Some of these vessels have already been repaired, but others will be in dock for several months. “The Japanese purpose was to knock out the United States before the war began,” declared Colonel Knox. “This was apparent by the deception indulged in for many weeks before the attack and by the attacks themselves which were simultaneous throughout the Pacific. The Japanese, however, failed." The United States services were not on the alert against a surprise attack at Hawaii This would be investigated immediately. “My investigation made it clear that after the attack the defence by both services was conducted skilfully and bravely. The navy lost the battleship Arizona, which was destroyed by the explosion of a boiler and a forward magazine, due to a bomb falling down the smokestack. "The navy also lost an old targetship, the Utah, three destroyers, the Cassin, Downes, and Shaw, and the minelayer Oglala. The navy sustained damage to other vessels. This varies from ships which have already been repaired and are ready for sea or which have gone to sea to a few ships which will take from a week to several months to repair. “In the last category the old battleship Oklahoma which* capsized, but can be righted and repaired. All the remainihg vessels of the Pacific fleet, with aircraft-carriers, are uninjured and are all at sea seeking contact with the enemy. “The Japanese material losses were three submarines and 41 aircraft. “Like all treacherous attacks, the bombing of Pearl Harbour - caught certain vessels undergoing periodic overhaul but the crews of these ships rescued hundreds of survivors thrown into the water by the explosions. Meanwhile, the surface of the water had become a raging inferno from burning oil. Doubtless the whole spectacle was the greatest spontaneous exhibition of co-operation, determination and courage the American w av’' has been called upon to make. The crew of one ship followed it round on its outside, as -it capsized, firing th° guns until they were under the water.” Colonel Knox said that submarines took part in the Japanese attack. Of the three Japanese submarines known to have been lost, one was of normal size, one was small, and the third, which was captured, was also small. It is believed that between 150 and 300 aeroplanes participated in the attack—too many to come from a single aircraft-carrier. The attacks were apparently made by single-engined machines and seemingly none was landbased. No new weapons were used. “I think the most effective fifth column work of the war was done in Hawaii with the possible exception of Norway. As far as is known, no Germans took part in the raid. The dry docks escaped damage and also the oil tanks.” Colonel Knox said, that navy personnel losses both on ships and on the shore included 91 officers and 2638 men killed, and 656 wounded. Army losses were severe in aircraft and hangars, but replacements had arrived or were on the way. Japan’s Attack Mr Roosevelt, in a message to Congress reviewed Japanese-American relations. He said: “We are now- at war, fighting in self-defence and for our national existence. The United States hoped to achieve an understanding with Japan for permanent peace in the Pacific but Japan’s reply took the form of an attack without warning upon our territories in the Pacific. “Actual air and submarine attacks in the Hawaiian Islands began at 1.20 p.m. Washington time on Sunday, December 7. At 2.20 p.m. the Japanese Ambassador in Washington delivered

to Mr Cordell Hull a message which said that the establishment of peace in the Pacific and the world was the cherished desire of the Japanese Emperor. “At 5 p.m. the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs called on the United States Ambassador, Mr Joseph C. Grew, who was told that the Emperor so greatly desired the establishment of peace in the Pacific and the entire world that sie had instructed the Japanese Government to continue its earnest endeavours to that end.” Mr Roosevelt concluded: “The people of this country are totally united in their determination to consecrate their national strength and manpower conclusively to end the pestilence of aggressors and force which has long menaced the world and which now has struck deliberately and directly at the safety of the United States.”