“HALLOWED SPIRITS”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 December 1941, Page 6

“HALLOWED SPIRITS”

INVOKED IN JAPANESE RESCRIPT APPEAL MADE FOR COURAGE & LOYALTY. CHINA DECLARES WAR ON AXIS. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, December 8. It is officially announced in Chungking that China has declared war on Japan, Germany and Italy. The Domei news agency has broadcast an Imperial rescript in which the Emperor declared war on Great Britain and the United States and called on “the hallowed spirits of our Imperial ancestors and the loyalty and courage of our subjects to achieve victory,” The rescript added that Japan had waited patiently, hoping the situation might be saved, but that Britain and American had left no other recourse but an appeal to arms.

JAPANESE CLAIM

COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF HONG KONG. (Received This Day, Noon.) NEW YORK, December 8. A Domei News Agency broadcast from Tokio declared that the Japanese Navy had established a complete blockade of Hong Kong.

PRECAUTIONS TAKEN

ON MEXICAN PACIFIC. COAST. (Received This Day, 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, December 8. A Mexico City message says the Government has ordered the Army and Navy to maintain a state of extraordinary vigilance on Mexico’s Pacific coast against any possible landing attempt, or suspicious activity of any kind by Japan.

WAR ON JAPAN

NEW ZEALAND DECLARATION. WELLINGTON, This Day. The Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) announced that the existence of a state of war between his Majesty’s Government in New Zealand and Japan had been declared as from 11 a.m., New Zealand summer time, on December 8, 1941.

STATE OF WAR

AXIS & UNITED STATES. VIEW TAKEN IN ITALY. (Received This Day, 12.55 p.m.) ROME, December 8. The radio said that, according to the Tripartite Pact, the Japanese declaration means the existence of a state of war between the Axis and the United States.

PEACEFUL ENTRY

JAPANESE IN THAILAND. GERMAN RADIO REPORT. (Received This Day, 12.55 p.m.) LONDON, December 8. The German radio declared that Japanese troops had begun a peaceful entry into Bangkok and also many important points in eastern and southern areas, in according with the Japan-Thailand agreement.

CITY BLACKED OUT

PRECAUTION AT SINGAPORE. ODD BOMBERS DRIVEN OFF DURING DAY. (Received This Day, 12.55 p.m.) SINGAPORE, December 8. The city was blacked out tonight. There were intermittent alarms during the day, when odd Japanese bombers attempted to reach Singapore, but were driven off.