STORIES OF DISASTER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 December 1941, Page 6

STORIES OF DISASTER

CURRENT IN UNITED STATES ALLEGED HEAVY LOSSES AT PEARL HARBOUR. NO OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION. NEW YORK, December 9. The “New York Post’s” Washington correspondent states: — “Grim, tightlipped silence at the Navy Department today did nothing 'to dispel widelycredited reports that the United States Navy had sustained a major disaster in Sunday’s surprise attack. In Congress and other official quarters the belief grew that the losses in the Pacific were far heavier than has so far been announced. Neither from the Navy Department nor the White House could any denial be obtained of reports which, if true, would put the Pearl Harbour engagement and subsequent encounters among the greatest naval disasters in history. What was not denied, at least for the time being, was the story that the Pacific Fleet lost four battleships, ten cruisers and an even larger number of destroyers. It must be remembered, however, that such losses have not been officially confirmed.”