Photo Essay: December 7th, 1941. Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor bird's eye view October 30, 1941

Taken from Residential areas.  Japanese bombers headed toward the harbor with anti-aircraft fire.

Hangar burns on Ford Island

USS Shaw explodes losing its bow

The USS West Virginia may have taken seven torpedo hits

B-17 at Hickam Field

Carnage from the air

From left to right: The West Virginia (BB-48), The Tennessee (BB-43) and the sunken Arizona (BB-39) 

The USS Arizona explodes

The Battleship USS California sinking

The Superstructure of the USS Arizona remains above the shallow waters of Pearl Harbor

Heavy Damage to the USS Casin and the USS Downes stationed at Pearl Harbor

The West Virginia and the capsized Oklahoma

USS Shaw burns whilst men on the pier throw water onto the fire.

Japanese plane dives to extinguish flames

One of the first photos to be taken.  Machine-gunned P-40

The Battleship USS California is afire and listing to port.

Oil burns.  USS Maryland in the center

Japan's Declaration of War

IMPERIAL RESCRIPT


We, by grace of heaven, Emperor of Japan, seated on the Throne of a line unbroken for ages eternal, enjoin upon ye, Our loyal and brave subjects:


We hereby declare War on the United States of America and the British Empire. The men and officers of Our Army and Navy shall do their utmost in prosecuting the war. Our public servants of various departments shall perform faithfully and diligently their respective duties; the entire nation with a united will shall mobilize their total strength so that nothing will miscarry in the attainment of Our war aims.


To insure the stability of East Asia and to contribute to world peace is the far-sighted policy which was formulated by Our Great Illustrious Imperial Grandsire and Our Great Imperial Sire succeeding Him, and which We lay constantly to heart. To cultivate friendship among nations and to enjoy prosperity in common with all nations, has always been the guiding principle of Our Empire's foreign policy. It has been truly unavoidable and far from Our wishes that Our Empire has been brought to cross swords with America and Britain. More than four years have passed since China, failing to comprehend the true intentions of Our Empire, and recklessly courting trouble, disturbed the peace of East Asia and compelled Our Empire to take up arms. Although there has been reestablished the National Government of China, with which Japan had effected neighborly intercourse and cooperation, the regime which has survived in Chungking, relying upon American and British protection, still continues its fratricidal opposition. Eager for the realization of their inordinate ambition to dominate the Orient, both America and Britain, giving support to the Chungking regime, have aggravated the disturbances in East Asia. Moreover these two Powers, inducing other countries to follow suit, increased military preparations on all sides of Our Empire to challenge Us. They have obstructed by every means Our peaceful commerce and finally resorted to a direct severance of economic relations, menacing gravely the existence of Our Empire. Patiently have We waited and long have We endured, in the hope that Our government might retrieve the situation in peace. But Our adversaries, showing not the least spirit of conciliation, have unduly delayed a settlement; and in the meantime they have intensified the economic and political pressure to compel thereby Our Empire to submission. This trend of affairs, would, if left unchecked, not only nullify Our Empire's efforts of many years for the sake of the stabilization of East Asia, but also endanger the very existence of Our nation. The situation being such as it is, Our Empire, for its existence and self-defense has no other recourse but to appeal to arms and to crush every obstacle in its path.


The hallowed spirits of Our Imperial Ancestors guarding Us from above, We rely upon the loyalty and courage of Our subjects in Our confident expectation that the task bequeathed by Our forefathers will be carried forward and that the sources of evil will be speedily eradicated and an enduring peace immutably established in East Asia, preserving thereby the glory of Our Empire.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hand and caused the Grand Seal of the Empipre to be affixed at the Imperial Palace, Tokyo, this seventh day of the 12th month of the 15th year of Shōwa, corresponding to the 2,652nd year from the accession to the throne of Emporer Jimmu.

(Released by the Board of Information, December 8, 1941. Japan Times & Advertiser)

A Summary of today's attack on Pearl Harbor

The Hawaiian island of Oahu was attacked by the Japanese Imperial Navy this morning.  The attack came from the air and began just before 8 o'clock local time.

The first attack was at Ford island, the US Navy's fortress in the sea.  Then the first planes moved to Hickam Field and did considerable damage to planes and installations there.  Wheeler field also sustained considerable damage.  Most of the planes there were destroyed.  Bellows Field on the windward side of the island also reports damage.

The Arizona sinking at Pearl Harbor

At Pearl Harbor, where's based the Pacific Fleet, the ships were attacked.  Many of the battleships were hit.  The USS Oklahoma was set afire.  The Arizona, next to an already torpedoed Nevada, was bombed and torpedoed early in the attack.  It sank in less than nine minutes in the shallow harbor.  An eyewitness claims it jumped 15-20 feet and broke in two.  Many other naval vessels sustained heavy damage such as the California, the West Virginia, the Tennessee and even Admiral Kimmel's own flagship, the USS Pennsylvania.  The training ship USS Utah was also sunk.

A destroyer USS Shaw was severely damaged in drydock.

Lines of communication between Army posts and Navy air drones are down.

The Navy has made no statements.  The Army has issued orders for the civilian population to remain off the streets.

Everyone here on the islands was taken by surprise by the attack.  It is difficult to believe that an air raid on the these beautiful islands has actually happened and that lives have been lost.

It is thought that planes came from the south.  One bomb dropped in front of the Governor's mansion at Washington Place and killed one man.  There was heavy bombing in the Pacific Heights residential districts killed one woman.

Casualty counts are changing every minute.  No estimate has been given.

Bulletin

President Roosevelt says the Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor from the air.  

Bulletin

<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>


FLASH


Washington, DC.


The White House has announced that the Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor.


<<<<<<<<<<<END>>>>>>>>>>>

Germans Proud of Hitler

As a result of Chancellor Adolf Hitler's Reichstag speech, Germany today is proud of her leader and proud of herself, and the anxiety with which the world listened to that speech merely enhances that pride.

Gone are the days, the press points out, when German envoys had to wait in the antechambers of foreign powers and when German proposals and protests were met with ironic smiles.  When Herr Hitler speaks the world listens, and that in itself is registered as a token of the distance, from armed weakness to world power, that Germany has covered under Chancellor Hitler in six years.

At the same time, official quarters, the press and a good part of the public were also eagerly listening today to the world echo that the speech evoked.

The press, largely because the public likes to that too, puts the main emphasis on how, with his declaration that he believes in a long peace, Herr Hitler confounded "warmongers" and their "war hysteria," and some newspapers already see Herr Hitler as challenging Prime minister Neville Chamberlain's peace laurels.

Despite many breathing a sigh of relief, Herr Hitler has put the problem of colonies at the feet of the world.  This problem may well need to be solved dutifully and soon.

Hitler demands the colonies taken from Germany to be returned.  Despite the assent given by the British on other matters, they refuse on this.

With the rumors that have come out of Germany about their military might and the mechanics, German correspondents seem puzzled by reports from international reporters.

In any case, all German newspapers proceed from the fundamental thesis laid down by Chancellor Hitler that Germany has too little living space, and, therefore, a new division of the world now is in order.

Hitler speaks to Reichstag on 6th Anniversary

Today, Adolf Hitler, Chancellor of Germany, went to the Reichstag. His speech was to mark the sixth anniversary of the Nazi rise to power. In the speech, he made aspersions to his ascendence to prophethood:

In the course of my life I have very often been a prophet, and have usually been ridiculed for it.

He continued on with his diatribe against the European Jewry after bringing up what has been referred to as the "Jewish problem". He also brought in the Bolsheviks, another target of increasing hatred by Hitler and many within the Nazi power structure.

...if the international Jewish financiers in and outside Europe should succeed in plunging the nations once more into a world war, then the result will not be the Bolshevizing of the earth, and thus the victory of Jewry, but the annihilation of the Jewish race in Europe!

Probably the worst of his remarks toward Jews came before this:

Europe will not have peace until the Jewish question has been disposed of. The world has sufficient capacity for settlement, but we must finally break away from the notion that a certain percentage of the Jewish people are intended, by our dear God, to be the parasitic beneficiary of the body, and of the productive work, of other peoples.

As expected, the Reichstag applauded his remarks enthusiastically. It seems that Hitler is promising the destruction of the Jews should they lead Europe into war. An interesting promise considering that Hitler seems to be the warmonger.

Chamberlain speaks in Birmingham

Neville Chamberlain, the Prime Minister of Great Britain spoke yesterday in Birmingham, England. He was addressing the Jeweler's Association of that esteemed city. In his speech he spoke of continued peace but also of the preparations should that peace be no longer viable.

Early on in the speech, the Prime Minister addressed the effects of modern warfare saying that it is "so terrible in its effects on those who take part in it, no matter what the ultimate outcome may be, it brings so much loss and suffering even to those who stand aside and watch combat from the ring, that it ought never be allowed to begin unless every practicable and honorable step has been taken to prevent it". This he says is the "view of this government from the beginning". Last year's Munich Agreement is, as he says "an incident in a consistent, unwavering policy of peace."

He also states that "Without the improvement in the relations of this country and Italy, I could never have obtained Signor Mussolini's cooperation last September, and without his cooperation I do not believe peace could have been saved."

After bringing up the Italian dictator, Mr. Chamberlain spoke of his recent visit to Rome and meeting with Mussolini. This was to speak to the criticism that has recently been directed at Mr. Chamberlain concerning not only his visit to Rome which did not result in any agreement but also his recognition of the Franco government in war-torn Spain.

He claims that the visit to Rome was not without results. They were able to, in his words, "get to know Italian statesmen better, to ascertain by personal discussion what was their point of view and to make sure that they understood ourselves."

In addition, he claims that the he found "the intense and passionate desire of the Italian people for peace." Moreover, the "feeling is not confined to the peoples of Britain and Italy." He said quite optimistically, that one may find "the same thing in France...Germany...in every country of the world."

He cautioned immediately after making this statement "that it is with governments and not peoples that we have to deal." Despite this, he said "let us cultivate the friendship of the peoples, and that can be done by individuals and by traders as well as by more official representatives."

It seems that Mr. Chamberlain is encouraging a deepening friendship of European bortherhood amongst the British. Great Britain and its islands, has long has identity problems considering its geographic relationship with the rest of Europe.

He wanted it clear that "we do not regard them as potential foes but rather as human beings like ourselves with whom we are always prepared to talk on terms of equality, with an open mind to hear their point of view and to satisfy so far as we can any reasonable aspirations that they cherish and which do not conflict with the general rights of others to liberty and justice."

Now after taking a considerable time to be hopeful and optimistic, the Prime Minister turned his remarks toward an area that is less idealistic. He was more speculative and spoke of the possible defense that Great Britain may find herself embroiled in. "If we should ever be involved in a war" he said "we may well find that if we are not at all in the firing line, we may all be in the line of fire."

Despite the darkness of this particular image that the Prime Minister evoked he also said "...in meeting that danger there is a new opportunity of service for the civil population in the various branches of defense." It appears the Prime Minister foresees an increase in war-related jobs that may help the still sluggish growth of the British economy.

At this time, it was prudent for the Prime Minister to address preparations being made among the civilians, the homes, their communities and even their children. He mentioned the numerous steel air-raid shelters "which are to be provided to give protection to those who live in vulnerable areas and cannot be expected to provide them for themselves." Considering England and its industrial centers, that may be a very high number of air-raid shelters.

Moreover, he spoke the "evacuation from our large, congested cities. If evacuation is to be carried out effectively it must be done in an orderly manner and I think it will be generally agreed that we must consider the children first." According to Mr. Chamberlain, the Minister of Health has asked local communities for surveys of acceptable accommodations that may receive, house and care for children during a possible future wartime.

He later spoke of the rumors and gossip that has been in the papers and on the airwaves. These may be devisive and unsettling. "Today the air is full of rumors and suspicions which out not to be allowed to persist." Prior to this he also remarked that plans will be made publis with cooperation between civilians and authority but that there may times when "matters cannot be made public without prejudice to the national safety." In that event, "we shall disclose fully our revised plans for civil defense to all who would be affected by them."

At end of his speech, the Prime Minister devoted some time to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the current President of the United States of America. He recalled in the President's most recent New Year message that the President said "peace could only be endangered by... a demand to dominate the world by force. That would be a demand which, as the President indicated and I myself have plainly declared already, the deomcracies must inevitably resist."

Mr. Chamberlain, however, "cannot believe that any such challenge is intended." He returned to his earlier remarks on the ravages of modern warfare and the avoidance of such savagery by practical nations. He said " the consequences of war for the peoples on either side would be so grave that no government which has their interests at heart would lightly embark upon them. Moreover, I remain convinced that there are no differences between nations, however serious, that cannot be solved without recourse to war by the consultation and renegotiation as was laid down in the declaration signed by Herr Hitler and myself in Munich."

He finished by entreating all to "continue to pursue the path of peace and conciliation, but until we can agree on a general limitation of arms let us continue to make this country strong." He then made aspersions has he done so earlier to Great Britain's triumph over Napoleon. He remarked to the audience that Great Britain should "meet the future with the same courage which enabled our ancestors to win through their troubles a century and a quarter ago."

Mr. Chamberlain was received warmly by the Association. His remarks have been made available to the press. It can only be days before a response will come from Herr Hitler or Signor Mussolini.

Chamberlain keeps his seat

Chamberlain retained his parliamentary seat yesterday. In East Norwich, he had enough votes even with a decreased majority.

F. Medlicott, a Liberal National who supports the Prime Minister, was elected to the House of Commons with 18,257 votes. The opposition, N.R. Tillett, had 10,785 votes. This was a majority of 12,647 votes for the government in the 1935 election.

Japan has a new Prime Minister

Despite his countries successes in China, Prince Fumimaro Konoe is resigning his position as Prime Minister of Japan.

He said he was tired of being a robot for the military. His resignation became official yesterday with the instatement of the newly appointed Baron Hiranuma.

Konoe will now be chariman of the Privy Council.

Baron Kiichiro Hiranuma is notable for his Spartan lifestyle: he sleeps four hours per day, eats only two meals and participates regularly in the sports of archery and fencing. He does all this at the wise age of 73 years. The new Prime Minister is also a founder of a patriotic society.

State of the Union Address

President Roosevelt stood in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon to give the State of the Union Address to the 76th session of Congress. His remarks were centered firmly on national defense. This is a topic that has in recent months become one of great interest and urgency. Developments in the past year in Europe as well as in East Asia have indicated a need for nations to take it upon themselves to ensure their continued peace and prosperity.

On this, the President said "All about us rage undeclared war - military and economic... threats of new aggression - military and economic." He stated that these entities are attacking the "new philosophies of force" with their threats to liberty, religion and international good faith. He pledged the defense of the Western Hemisphere from these philosophies. These philosophies are fascism, nazism and with less urgency though no less significant, communism. All of them subscribe in some measure to a rabid nationalism. He went on to say that the demands of the future will demand a United Nation. He linked national defense with his New Deal and social welfare programs.

He concluded his address by quoting Abraham Lincoln's closing remarks to his own 1862 State of the Union address: "This generation will 'nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope of earth. The way is pain, peaceful, generous, just - a way which if followed the world will forever applaud and God must forever bless.'"

With it's conclusion, the President and his cabinet exited the chamber and left Capital Hill.

Japan responds to US State Department

Yesterday, the US State Department made its official rejection of current policies in place in China under Japanese authority.

It was inevitable that Japan would respond as is their right. In summation, the Japanese Imperial Government replied stating it was establishing a "new order based on genuine international justice throughout East Asia". The note also went on to make it clear that there is not one nation which has the power to establish order in areas not under sovereignty particularly that of the United States. In other words, the Japanese are calling into question whether the US has any right to complain about areas that are not under its express control in China.

Japan's New Order in China meets opposition

The United States Department of State does not believe that Japan's new order in China is beneficial. Most especially, the government feels that there are too many conflicts with US interests in China. There have been numerous economic and human rights violations during Japan's sometimes ruthless campaign on mainland Asia.

United States declared that these interferences are not only "unjust and unwarranted" but also "counter to the provisions of several binding international agreements, voluntarily entered into" to which the United States and Japan are both parties.

The Government of the United States can not assent to the establishment of a regime "which would arbitrarily deprive them of the long-established rights of equal opportunity and fair treatment".

German ID Cards go into effect

Identity Cards go into effect in Germany and in lands under German control. Jews will be required to have their identity as Jews listed on their cards. At this time, it appears that it will be a stamp of "J" on the card (Kennkarte) or passport (Reisepässe). Some regulations indicate that people who have even one Grandparent that is Jewish will be designated as Jews.

Jews will also be restricted from working side-by-side with non-Jewish Germans.

Hitler is said to have passed word to Jews outside German lands that life is that intolerable Jews that they should know better than to live there. He also believes that they will finance the emigration of any Jews form Germany.

Restrictions on Jews on Trains

Yesterday it was announced that Jews have been forbidden from using Sleeping or Dining cars when travelling by train in Germany and Austria.

Declaration of Lima

Twenty One American Republics met these past few days in Lima, Peru. Those in attendance signed the Declaration of Lima on Christmas Eve. The document highlights the particular unity among American nations not just as a geographical means but a sprititual one. It provides for pan-American consultation in case of a threat to the “peace, security, or territorial integrity” of any state.

This meeting is a regular occurrence. American nations meet every few years to discuss topics that of interest and concern to these nations.

Members are: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.

*************************************************************

The Eighth International Conference of American States,

Considering:

That the peoples of America have achieved spiritual unity through the similarity of their republican institutions, their unshakable will for peace, their profound sentiment of humanity and tolerance, and through their absolute adherence to the principles of international law, of the equal sovereignty of states and of individual liberty without religious or racial prejudices;

That on the basis of such principles and will, they seek and defend the peace of the continent and work together in the cause of universal concord;

That respect for the personality, sovereignty, and independence of each American state, constitutes the essence of international order sustained by continental solidarity, which historically has found expression in declarations of various states, or in agreements which were applied, and sustained by new declarations and by treaties in force; that the Inter-American Conference for the Maintenance of Peace, held at Buenos Aires, approved on December 21, 1936, the declaration of the principles of inter-American solidarity and cooperation, and approved, on December 23, 1936, the protocol of nonintervention; the Governments of the American States

Declare:

First. That they reaffirm their continental solidarity and their purpose to collaborate in the maintenance of the principles upon which the said solidarity is based;

Second. That faithful to the above-mentioned principles and to their absolute sovereignty, they reaffirm their decision to maintain them and to defend against all foreign intervention or activity that may threaten them;

Third. And in case the peace, security or territorial integrity of any American republic is thus threatened by acts of any nature that may impair them, they proclaim their common concern and their determination to make effective their solidarity, coordinating their respective sovereign wills by means of the procedure of consultation, established by conventions in force and by declarations of the inter-American conferences, using the measures which in each case the circumstances may make advisable. It is understood that the Governments of the American Republics will act independently in their individual capacity, recognizing fully their juridical equality as sovereign states;

Fourth. That in order to facilitate the consultations established in this and other American peace instruments, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the American Republics, when deemed desirable and at the initiative of any one of them, will meet in their several capitals by rotation and without protocolary character. Each government may, under special circumstances or for special reasons, designate a representative as a substitute for its Minister for Foreign Affairs;

Fifth. This declaration shall be known as the "Declaration of Lima."

Italy forbids Jews in Military

Italy now forbids any Jews in the Military service. Any Jews now serving will be expunged from service or they can peaceably retire from service

Danzig Pogroms

Following its western neighbor into violence against Jews, the Free City of Danzig was the site of a night of terror. A widespread riot occurred against Jews in the city with many shops destroyed and synagogues desecrated and burned.

Unlike in Germany, there were protests against the violence by those in power. The League of Nations Commisioner, Dr. Burkhardt of Switzerland, lodged complaints against the pogroms but he was barely heard.

Libyan Jews no longer Italian

Italy made a decision to rescind Italian citizenship from 20,000 Libyan Jews. They will remain stateless where they are for time being as no other option is available.

German Jews can't go to University

German Universities will no longer allow Jews to attend courses or do research at Universities. Jews can no longer leave the country or hold gainful employment either.

Seventh Ordinance

The seventh ordinance of the Reich Citizenship Act orders a reduction in pensions for compulsorily retired Jewish officials.

Father Coughlin goes on...

Father Coughlin continues to rant against Jews worldwide yesterday. He now is fixed Jewish Banking claiming that it is all part of a vast conspiracy.

Despite his Anti-Semitic remarks, it appears the Catholic priest is well-liked among the American public. Americans have gathered to let their voices be heard claiming that when Hitler gets here, he'll change things for the Jews.

The Roman Catholic Church does not condone Father Charles Coughlin's beliefs.

Aryanizing Jewish Businesses

Minister Joseph Goebbels handed down a decree today. All Jewish businesses, enterprises and shops will be Aryanized. All Jewish firms were dissolved on November 23rd.

Also today, Jews were forced to relinquish their driver's licenses and their vehicle registration papers. An earlier proclamation also forbade the movement of Jews from different localities.

Danzig Jews included in atonement

The recent Kristallnacht pogroms in German and Austria led to a bill to be paid by the Jews. Yesterday, it was announced that this will now include Danzig Jews. The amount is 1 Billion reichsmark.

Father Coughlin continues to Anger

Father Charles Coughlin, a Roman Catholic Priest and Radio broadcaster, again brought scathing anti-Semitic remarks into his religious radio broadcast.

He leads a political party by the name of the Christian Front out of Detroit. He led the National Union for Social Justice until its transformation into the Christian Front last year. He has claimed that there is a Jewish-Bolshevik Threat to the United States. He has also joined in with the Isolationists in saying "Less care for internationalism and more concern for national prosperity."

The Roman Catholic Church has said that they can only disagree with the priest. They cannot make him stop using the radio as a medium to reach the masses.

He again made inflammatory remarks on his November 30th broadcast. With the increasing violence against Jews in Europe, there are murmurs that Coughlin is accepting money from the Nazis. It may be possible. He has been growing further critical of FDR in the past four years and praised Hitler for his anti-Jewish policies.

He has also found it harder to fund his radio broadcasts as of late. Even with a 1 million and more circulation of his journal Social Justice Weekly. It is assumed that he must be accepting money from abroad. Not even the Bishop of Detroit could fund this.

This journalist assumes the FBI to look into any Nazi connections the priest may have. If the agency is not currently doing so, then get to it!

Great Britain picks up the pace

Rearmament has been in progress for several months now. The British government announced today that it would be quickening the pace in the coming weeks.

Despite Chamberlain's assurance "Peace for our Time", it appears the British are not so assured after all. However, it may be noted that it was initiated due to Germany's illegal presence in the Rhineland and its own surge in military building and manufacturing.

Jewish Movement Restricted

Jews are hearby restricted from moving from one locality to another. After being stripped of the passports preventing them from leaving the country they are now not allowed to move about within their own country.

The Nazi authorities left it to the local municipal Presidents to establish curfews and locations that are off-limits for Jews.

This came down yesterday.