12 Dec 1941
Page 1
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Newspaper
Somerset Daily American
Location
Somerset, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Date
Dec 12, 1941
Page
1
Army communique notes the enemy strengthens in northern Luzon while the overall Philippines posture remains materially unchanged. The report emphasizes no significant shifts in strategic balance despite local gains.
Reports say Japanese forces have increased strength in northern Luzon while overall U S defense holds. A small force reportedly landed at Legaspi on Luzons southeastern coast, but details remain unconfirmed. Alarm and air raids occurred but no raiders were seen. American forces claim to have repulsed landing attempts and sunk or damaged several Japanese vessels during ongoing operations.
Japanese reports claim the destruction of 81 American planes a submarine and a destroyer in attacks on the Philippines and the capture of 350 Americans on the Guam outpost. Tokyo acknowledged five losses. U S claims of sunk Japanese ships are noted but not confirmed. Prisoners include Captain George C. McMillan, governor of Agana.
CBS correspondent and Repulse survivor Cecil Brown describes the 1941 battle in a 2000 word log. He recalls the torpedo and bombing attack by about 89 Japanese planes, the fires aboard the Repulse, and the Prince of Wales being sunk with no explosion before it finished.
Washington reports a series of Allied blows against Japanese naval forces. The Haruna battleship was sunk off Luzon as Army units claimed victory. Wake Island defenders repelled four attacks and sank a cruiser and a destroyer. Navy planes damaged a Kongo class battleship off Luzon.
London dispatch reports a large share of Jap planes attacking Malaya are piloted by Germans. Enemy losses indicate many pilots were captured or killed, while British land forces have not yet engaged the Japanese who hold a foothold north of Singapore.
Washington dispatch reports Wake Island defenders sink a cruiser and a destroyer while repelling four Japanese attacks. Congress quickly declares war on Germany and Italy with broad support as U S leaders vow united action against axis powers.
The report states Hitler accuses the United States of acts of war at sea while declaring the German people must face a united axis to end the war, signaling a dramatic escalation.
Hitler in a Reichstag address declares war on the United States and outlines a new Axis alliance of Germany Italy and Japan to seek a total victory. He cites Roosevelt's orders at sea and U S actions as justification while noting arrests of American citizens in Germany and the seizure of U S and German correspondents.
Daily weather summary by David Grove shows the 24 hour period from 5 30 p m Wednesday to 5 30 p m Thursday with maximum and minimum temperatures and a trace snowfall reading. The note references the prior year temperatures for comparison.
Eastern Pennsylvania faces increasing clouds and cold with occasional snow Friday night and Saturday after a chilly Friday. Maryland sees cloudy skies with coastal warmth and snow in western areas Friday and Friday night, then milder Saturday. Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia expect clouds and gradual warming with snow possible Friday and Saturday, with northern pockets seeing snow by Friday afternoon.
The United States declares war on the axis and reports early Pacific airsea battles. Japanese ships Haruna and Kongo are sunk or damaged near Luzon as Wake Island resists. British and Chinese forces push back Japanese incursions. Hong Kong holds. POW crews saved from Prince of Wales and Repulse. Churchill vows unity in the English speaking world.
Mexico severed diplomatic relations with Germany and Italy in a sharp break following similar action with Japan last week. President Avila Camacho had warned that axis declarations of war against the United States would be treated as aggression against Mexico. Meanwhile in Upper Darby two missionaries from the Presbyterian Church, Rev. and Mrs. John D. Harkness, traveling from San Francisco to India, are reported safe after the Dutch liner crossing.
Acting Mayor Bernard Samuel stated Philadelphia is highly vulnerable to bombing due to its status as a major manufacturing center on the Atlantic seaboard.
The navy announced a mined area covering Chesapeake Bay approaches and ordered all vessels to take pilots before entering. It also said New York harbor approaches are mined, but Ambrose Swash Chapel Hill Coney Rockaway Raritan Sandy Hook Gedney and South channels remain open with buoyed limits and prescribed navigation ranges for Swash Channel.
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