St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 1

Vl POST I'NAL (Closing New York Stock Prices) 0 SEVENTH SPATE The Only Evening Newspaper in St. Louis Witti the Associated $Press News Service Vol. 94. No. 94.

(63d Year). ST. LOUIS, MONDAY, DECEMBER 32 PAGES 1 PRICE 3 CEOTS UvJ ell 91 I KJ I LI Lizi Li II Unprovoked and Dastardly Attack" Roosevelt miHf SHIP CAPSIZED. JOIN SESSION ACTS ESTROYER BLOWN UP. QUICKLY ON REQUEST FROM THE PRESIDENT WHITE HOUSE REVEALS Other American Ships Damaged, Representative Jeannette Rankin Many Planes Destroyed U.

S. Fighting Back Manila Fort and Airfield Are Heavily Bombed. NEW YORK, Dec. 8 (AP). Manila is tinder bombardment by Japanese planes, an NBC correspondent reported late today (Tuesday morning, Manila time), with the raiders mashing at Fort William McKinley, Nichols air field and the Radio Corporation of America short wave transmitter.

"The fire is simply raging out said Bert Silen, the radio reporter. Casts Only Opposing Vote in Either House 'We Will Gain the Inevitable Triumph Says Roosevelt. ROME, Dec. 8 (AP). The Rome radio denied broadcasting today any statement that the Japanese declaration of war oa the United States put into operation Italy's and Germany's alliance with Japan in the Three-Power Pact.

(Such a broadcast was reported heard by the Columbia Broadcasting System.) The Rome radio did say: "Although Japan was bound by the Three-Power Pact to make war should the United States wage war against Germany and Italy she did not wait for this." 'CO dB" L''v" "-j A V. V' II 1 I I I In II 11 The NBC reporter said "terrific damage" was done by the Japanese attackers, including apparent destruction of the gasoline supply at Nichols Air Field. WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 (AP) declared war against Japan today after President Roosevelt requested im PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT delivering his war message to Congress today. Behind him sit VICE-PRESIDENT HE1TRY ryIACgrrQ aarf if USESPEA KER SAM RA YB URN( center.) J.tf mediate action as an answer to Japan's "unprovoked and dastardly attack'.

on Hawaii. The President signed the declaration after Congress acted. A united Congress acted swiftly after the President had SINGAPORE, Dec. 8 fAPJ-A communique issued "about 8 p. m.

(7 a. St. Louis time), said that the Royal Air Force was delivering extensive aerial counter-blows against Japanese transports attempting to land troops in Northern Malaya. 1r WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 (AP).

The White House today JAPANESE CLAIM THEY SANK TWO U.S. BATTLESHIPS BRITAIN DECLARES IR ON JAPAN IN alliance o.s. lannounced serious damage to American forces in Hawaii. if The White House also announced that the Japanese attack on Hawaii had resulted in the capsizing of an old battleship, the destruction of a destroyer, damage to other vessels and desruction of a relatively large number of planes. An official White House statement, the first authentic Government appraisal of the attack yesterday, said that casualties were expected to mount to about 3000, nearly half of them fatalities.

The White House added that several Javanese nlanes and BERLIN, Dec. 8 (AP). A DNB (German official news agency) dispatch tonight from Tokyo, quoting a report in the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri from Saigon, French Indo-China, said a United States transport had been sunk with a loss of 350 men in waters around Manila. submarines had been accounted for. Tuesday, Dec.

9 (Official Radio Picked Up by AP). The Japanese asserted today they had won naval supremacy over the United States in the Pacific, claiming by official or unofficial reports the destruction of two American battleships and an aircraft carrier and the damaging of four battleships and six cruisers. These, declared the Japanese, were the principal results of the first shock of their air-naval offensive. The claim to supremacy, ap- It was disclosed that active resistance was "still against the Japanese attacking force in the vicinity of Hawaii. Re-enforcements of planes are being rushed to the elands, the White House said, and repair work is underway on ships, planes and ground facilities.

The White House said that Wake and Midway islands, in addition to the island of Guam and Hongkong, China, had been attacked, but that details were lacking. The statement said that several other ships "have been seriously damaged," that one destroyer was "blown tip," and several other small ships were "seriously hit." Several hangars were destroyed in the bombing of Army air fields, the White House said, and "a large number of planes were put out of commission." However, a number of bombers were said to have arrived to the islands safely from San Francisco while the engagement as underway. Continued on Page 11, Column 3. TEXT OF ROOSEVELT'S MESSAGE TO CONGRESS WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 (AP).

THE text of President Roosevelt's tear message to Congress follows: To the Congress of the United States: Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 a date which will live in infamy the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its Government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan make it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya. Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

This morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island. Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation. As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.

Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again. Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at, the fact' that our people, our territory and our Interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces with the unbounding determination of our people we will gain the inevitable triumph-so help us God. I ask that the Congress declare' that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, Dec. 7, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empir. FAIR AND COOLER Two hundred marines, all that remained of the American Tftoanne dptnoTimnTit in fTTrtina Viaxro Vioon in ottio A TiMf TlPTitSlTl. Text of Prime Minister Churchill's address on Page 6 A.

By ROBERT E. BEUNELLE LONDON, Dec 8 (AP). Britain, like the United States under Japanese attack, declared war today on the Tokyo Government, without waiting for Washington first to formulate an American declaration. Said Prime Minister Winston Churchill: It only remains now for the two great democracies to face their tasks with whatever strength God may give them. At the same time Britain made an ally of China.

Churchill told the British in a radio speech later that war with Japan meant some American aid to Britain would cease coming "for the moment" and called on aircraft workers to redouble their production to fill the gap." Prime Minister Churchill told the House of Commons that instructions had been forwarded to the British Embassy at Tokyo and that at 1 p. m. (6 p. Louis time) a note was handed to the Japanese Charge d'Affaires here "stating that in view of Japan's wanton acts of unprovoked aggression the British Government informed them that a state of war existed between the two countries." Churchill recalled that "with the full approval of the nation and of the Empire I pledged the word of Great Britain about a month ago that should the United States be involved in war with Japan, a British declaration would follow within the hour." Churchill declared that Britain had assured Thailand "that an attack on her will be regarded as an attack on ui." (Thailand already has been at- revealed that American forces lost two warships and 3000 dead and wounded in the surprise dawn attack yesterday. The Senate vote was 82 to 0.

The vote in the House was 388 to 1. Miss Jeannette Rankin Montana, who voted against entering the first World War, was the oniy member of Congress to oppose today's declaration. Thirteen Senators who did not vote were announced as being absent. There is one vacancy in the Senate. The absenstees were Senators Bilbo, Bone, Caraway, McCarran, Schwartz, Thomas of Idaho, Wallgren, Wheeler, Spencer and Hayden, all Democrats, and Brewater, Holman and Capper, Republicans.

The Senate and House had assembled together to hear President Roosevelt ask the declaration. They cheered him enthusiastically and then pushed the resolution through with not a moment's waste of time. The President recited the events since Japan's assault oa America's Pacific bases and said he had "directed that all measures be taken for our defense." "Hostilities exist," Roosevelt asserted. "There is no blink, ing at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger. "With confidence in our armed forces with the unbounding determination of our people we will gain the inevitable triumph so help us Go Roosevelt's words to the joint session, second in a generation to hear "a President ask for a declaration of war, wer solemn but brief He said Japan had undertaken a "surprise offensive? extending throughout the Pacific, noting that the Japanese Empire not only had attacked Hawaii and the Philippines but also Malaya, Hongkong, Guam, Wake and Midway Islands.

"Always we will remember the character of the onslaught against us," the President said. "No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. "I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again." In his address, the President noted that Ihe Americaa naval and military forces had suffered "severe damage" ia the bombing raid on Hawaii and that "very many Americaa lives have been lost." In addition, he said, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu. He was less specific, however, than his assistants had been earlier when they announced that an American battleship had capsized in Pearl Harbor, that several other war vessels had been damaged seriously, a destroyer blown up, and a large number of planes destroyed by bombs at Army and Navy air fields. But the White House had said that America's defenders TONIGHT, ABOUT 31; HIGH TOMORROW 48 The statement asserted that it seemed apparent many bombs had been dropped in Honolulu.

It seemed to indicate Continued on Page 7, Column L. THE TEMPERATURES. 1 a. m. 48 9 m.

40 2 a. m. 47 10 a. m. 41 TODAY'S WAR NEWS WASHINGTON Congress of lted States declares war on Ja-after hearing President Roose- is a.

m. ii m. m. 4 a. m.

45 12 noon 41 5 a. m. 43 1 p. m. 2 6 a.

m. 42 2 p. m. 42 7 a. m.

41 3 p. m. 43 8- a. m. 40 Normal maximum tfiii date, 43; norma minimum, 29.

Yesterday' high, 48 (11:59 p. tow, 30 7:30 a. Weather In other cities Page 4C. unai mil biiccvu Slh he condemns "dastardly and provoked White. House Official forecast for St.

Louis and vicinity: Fair tonight and tomorrow; cooler tonight; continued cool tomorrow: lowest tonight about 31; highest tomorrow about fatalities, in Japanese air as-It on Hawaii. TOKYO Japanese report two States battleships and air-carrier sunk, four battle-jjP and six cruisers damaged in waiian waters; American Islands "Ouam and Wake attacked; To-; nd other cities in Japan ed out; Thailand (Siam) said have yielded to Japanese invad- and agreed to passage of 3XIA Japanese bombers to M-nlI after causing re- ing action says "Hitler's madness has infected the Japanese mind" and "the root of evil and its branch must be extirpated together by the democracies; Canada and The Netherlands declase war; R. A. F. attacks Aachen and ports in France; Russians report hurling Germans back in several Moscow sectors, say they wiped out two divisions (30,000 men) in counterattack north of capital.

MELBOURNE A ustralia to make formal declaration of war against Japan tomorrow; Australian-mandated island of Nauru and Ocean Island attacked. HONGKONG British crown colony twice attacked by Japanese planes; light casualties reported. SINGAPORE Japanese air raider! kill 63 and wound 133 in naval base; fighting in north Malaya as British press "mopping up operations against landing parties after routing invaders' naval units. BERLIN Germans announce abandonment cf plans to take Moscow this year, attributing decision to severe winter weather. Continued on Page 11, Column 4.

48. Missouri Fair tonight and tomorrow; cooler tonight and in southeast portion tomorrow. Illinois: Fair in west and south portions, cloudy becoming fair in northeast portion, cooler rt ib7f A 1M iner points aitai Kru We Fort Stotensburg, Clark TREND OF TODAY'S MARKETS Stocks weak; war outbreak hits leaders. Bonds lower; Federals slip in nominal dealings. Cotton firm; Wall street, mill and New Orleans buyers.

Wheat up 5 cents. Corn 3 to 4 4 cents higher. Soybeans up 5 to 6 cents. Port aircraf carrier Langley re- WLATHCRainO PA OF. O-VDONBritaln declares war Churchill In announc tonight; tomorrow fair; continued rather cold.

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