11 Dec 1941
Page 1
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Newspaper
Somerset Daily American
Location
Somerset, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Date
Dec 11, 1941
Page
1
Allied war news reports loss of the battleship Prince of Wales and a battle cruiser in a Japanese air attack. Casualties and damage tolls are not fully confirmed, but the strike marks a severe setback for British naval forces in the campaign.
Cecil Brown CBS reporter and O Don Gallagher London Daily Express war correspondent were rescued after the British battle cruiser Repulse and the Prince of Wales were sunk by Japan near Singapore. Brown, a New Brighton native and Ohio State graduate, had reported from Europe and the Middle East before assignment in Singapore. Brown’s wife Martha lives in New York.
London reports two British capital ships the 35 000 ton Prince of Wales and 32 000 ton Repulse sunk off Malaya in an air attack claims. Australian PM Curtin orders wartime stock conservation and production concentration as Britain losses rise.
Imperial headquarters announce two British capital ships sunk by Japanese bombers off Malaya. Repulse allegedly sank immediately. Prince of Wales crippled and went down after a second bombing. Japan reports 51 missing planes and two transports sunk. Britain confirms some crew losses but no official confirmation of full destruction of the Far Eastern fleet.
British destroyers and patrol planes hunted for survivors of the battleship Prince of Wales as Singapore reports the loss of two capital ships. Allied troops in Malaya consolidate along new lines after Japanese advances. Naval and air units from Britain Australia and the Netherlands pound Japanese positions in Malaya and along the coast. Hong Kong reports limited Japanese penetration with counterattacks planned from Chungking.
In a telephone briefing from Honolulu, island importer Georg Lewbel said everything is under control after Sunday’s raids. Mainland fears are higher than local confidence, with no harm reported to Honolulu workers or operations at Creameries of America Standard Oil California and major Hawaiian firms.
The hospital board of directors voted to paint a large Red Cross on the roof of the Columbia hospital as a precaution against enemy air raids.
Japanese forces reportedly landed near Aparri and Vigan in northern Luzon as heavy air and naval assaults battered Manila. A six ship convoy was crippled near Vigan, while transports off Vigan endured direct hits. U S forces countered with air strikes and coastal defenses as panic spread in Manila with residents fleeing and streets emptied.
Russell Brines reports from Manila of a four motor bomber assault on 1941 harbor targets. Fires raged at Cavite naval base and Nichols Air Depot while anti aircraft fire and dogfights filled the sky over Manila Bay.
Army headquarters announced Panama Canal will close nightly from 6 p m to 6 a m. Precautionary blackouts ordered in the Canal Zone and Panama City. Panama Republic completed formal action declaring war on Japan, signed by the president.
Eastern Pennsylvania sees fair skies with colder air in the south on Thursday. Maryland follows with fair, colder conditions in east and central areas on Thursday, then Friday turns more cloudy with a gradual rise in temperature. West Virginia remains mainly fair and cold Thursday, then becomes cloudy Friday as temperatures slowly climb.
Secretary of State Hull asked the Pan-American Union governing board to convene foreign ministers in Rio de Janeiro during the first week of January to plan defense measures in line with good neighbor pledges. The move follows Chilean urging and rapid replies from nations already at war with Japan.
Argentina and Honduras froze Japanese funds while Paraguay and Ecuador declared solidarity with the United States. Uruguay's Balomir warned that war operations could reach the River Plate and said, We are practically at war. Argentina was reported ready to reconsider prior objections to fortifications.
The navy department announced that mined areas have been placed in the approaches to New York harbor. The hydrographic office said the mined zone is established and incoming vessels will receive safe navigation directions from the patrol vessel off Ambrose channel entrance.
The Reichstag was to meet at 3 p m to hear a declaration by the German government likely about the United States and the Pacific war. Reports described Berlin and Rome cutting U S contact as German assets in Japan attacked Luzon and Hong Kong while British ships were sunk near Malaya. The war department said Luzon came under heavy air attack as Fifth Column searches and coast defenses expanded. Russian advances were reported on the Moscow front while German troops began tactical withdrawals.
The Pennsylvania Young Republicans called a special meeting of leaders in Harrisburg for Sunday to review plans for the 1942 campaign. Officers said gubernatorial candidates may be discussed.
Charles E. Clark of Wayne was named today chief fire warden of the state council of defense. He is secretary of the Pennsylvania Firemen's association.
More than 1 000 members of the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors opened their annual convention by pledging full support for the defense of the nation.
Four brothers from Philadelphia enlist in the Navy after leaving work. Frederick C. Iron Jr., 25, a truck driver. Edward A., 23, a pipefitter. Perry Be., 90, a plumber. and James G., 18, a student welder, join today.
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