NEWS IN WASHINGTON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 December 1941, Page 5

NEWS IN WASHINGTON

FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT MADE BY PRESIDENT

Attacks on Pearl Harbour and Oahu SEVERAL JAPANESE PLANES SHOT DOWN ENEMY ACTION ALSO TAKEN AGAINST MANILA LONDON, December 7. A 8.8. C. broadcast states that the Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, by air. President Roosevelt himself made the announcement at White House. The President stated that attacks were also made on all naval and military activities on the principal island of Oahu. President Roosevelt’s announcement was read to reporters by Mr Stephen Early, the President’s secretary. No further details were then given. At 7.44 a.m. today (N.Z. time) the 8.8. C. announced that the Japanese had also attacked army and naval bases at Manila, in the Philippines, by air. A subsequent message said the attacks were still going on. The Japanese envoys in Washington, Mr Kurusu and Admiral Nomura, had arranged to call at the State Department and White House made the announcement while they were there. The radio network of the United States and the overseas services of the 8.8. C. interrupted their programmes to flash the news to the world. Reports from Honolulu giving details of the attack on Pearl Harbour say that several planes were shot down.