NO WARNING OF WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24143, 9 December 1941, Page 7

NO WARNING OF WAR

BIG RAID ON HAWAII

ALL VITAL BASES ATTACKED

GUAM "ALMOST DESTROYED"

BRITISH FIGHTING IN MALAYA

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Beceived December S, 11.50 p.m.) NEW YORK, Dec. 7 The United States Fleet struck back with the thunder of big naval guns when waves of Japanese bombers assailed Hawaii this morning as the opening move in war against the United States and Great Britain. # : f While Tokio announced that war had been declared by Japan upon the two chief democracies, reports came in of the great raid on the American naval base at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, of a subsequent naval engagement off Honolulu, of the bombing of the American naval bases in the Philippine Islands, of a Japanese move against Thailand and landings in Northern Malaya and North Borneo, which were strongly resisted by the British garrisons. Fighting is going on in Malaya. Japanese forces are attacking all the vital British and United -States bases in the Pacific. A message from Singapore says 60 persons were killed and 133 injured in the first raid by Japanese bombers. An attempted landing by Japanese forces in northern Borneo was driven off by British troops. Japanese naval units have now surrounded Guam, the American island base 1500 miles east of the Philippines, and the oil reservoirs and hotel have been set on fire. During the raid on Guam Pan-American Airways' base was damaged. President Roosevelt told newspaper men in Washington that the base at Guam had been virtually destroyed. Japanese troops are attempting to attack Hongkong. At dawn to-day Japanese aeroplanes raided the colony. Kowloon was also attacked. All British women and children have been evacuated from Hongkong. , /f ■ The Japanese have taken control of Shanghai after sinking a British gunboat, which fought to the last. lip! All steps to meet the emergency had been taken by the United States Navy, and for the past 10 days patrols have been m force from Formosa to Malaya. The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says United States warships are expected to operate out of Singapore as soon as possible, protecting vital rubber shipments necessary to the American war programme. j. Further detailed discussions will soon take place between America, Britain. China and the Netherlands to devise a "total scheme" of limiting the activities of the Japanese fleet. Immediate steps will be taken to meet the increased menace to the Burma Road. Prsident Roosevelt conferred for hours last night with his ■aval and military chiefs and with the heads of other departments. I The Tokio radio to-day said it is believed there that Germany will declare war on the United States within 24 hours..