HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22141, 9 December 1941, Page 5

HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE

Bombing of Island bases

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, December 7.

JAPAN TOOK all America by surprise to-day when, without warning, planes attacked the great base at Pearl Harbour, Honolulu, and Guam, with admittedly heavy damage and loss of life. Nevertheless America s war machine, both the administration and combat sides, began functioning swiftly and efficiently. The White House announcements, although electrical, were received calmly.

The United States fleet struck back with a thunder of big naval guns, when waves of Japanese bombers assailed Hawaii. Parachutists appeared off Harbour Point, five miles from the centre of Honolulu, presumably suicide squadrons and saboteurs. Then the United States fleet steamed from Pearl Harbour.

The sound of heavy gunfire was heard off the island of Oahu, and gun flashes were seen. It is believed that most of the Japanese bombers operated from an aircraft carrier, which might have been intercepted.

Honolulu residents gathered on hilltops to watch the attack. Apparently there was no panic, although the population was caught entirely unawares, and the first detonations were believed to be merely army and navy target practice.

A Japanese aircraft-carrier was sunk off Honolulu, according to the Panama radio, which was picked up in New York by the National Broadcasting Company.

The Governor of Hawaii, General Poindexter, talked with President Roosevelt late this afternoon and reported heavy damage to life and property in Hawaii. He said that another wave of Japanese planes was just coming over. According to a message from Manila, the Associated Press states that United States army bombers and pursuit planes took to the air and roared northwards at dawn after news of the outbreak of hostilities was received. This is the only sign of war here at 4.25 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Sunday. The Tokio correspondent of “Osaka Ma Nichi” reported that a Japanese and American naval battle is going on in the Western Pacific. The United States War Department gave a preliminary estimate of 104 dead and more than 300 wounded in the Army and Air Force alone as a result of Japan’s bombing of the Island of Oahu. The figures do not include civilian casualties. Attack on Malaya

It is officially stated that the first attempt of a Japanese landing, made soon after 1 am., local time, was repulsed by small arms fire and air action. Enemy troops succeeded in landing on a beach near Padang Stabek, and are reported to be infiltrating toward Khota Baru aerodrome. Land forces and planes are engaging them. Planes are also attacking enemy ships.

Anti-aircraft guns opened up at Pearl Harbour, and several aeroplanes are reported to have been shot down. With the anti-aircraft guns in operation, and some fires burning, clouds of smoke were over the town. Correspondents telephoned ‘heir stories, and the reports of the explor’ is on Oahu Island could be heard in New York over the telephone. Reports stated that 150 Japanese bomber aircraft took part in the first attack on Hawaii and that as the action developed aircraft co-operating with a large naval vessel kept up a heavy assault Another report stated that a naval vessel was making a heavy bombardment of the outer defence- aS Pearl Harbour. This report has not been confirmed. Japanese Imperial headquarters in Tokio report that a naval battle is in progress off Honolulu between Japanese and British units. In the Japanese raid on the island of Oahu, 144 persons were killed and 800 wounded. A Japanese aircraft-carrier has been sunk off Honolulu, and Wake Island has been occupied by the Japanese, who are making a series of raids on Hawaii. A total of 350 people were killed In a raid on an airfield at Honolulu. Several fires were started in the city area. In the neighbourhood of the island anti-aircraft gunfire shot down six Japanese aircraft, and four submarines were also sunk.