From Don Iddon, New York, Sunday.
JAPAN tonight declared war on Britain and the United States after launching full-scale naval and air attacks on two of America's main bases in the Pacific (Pearl Harbour, in Hawaii, and Guam, between Hawaii and the Philippines Islands). Already the Dutch East Indies have announced themselves at war with Japan, and the formal British and American declarations are expected in a matter of hours.

Quickly recovering from the first attacks, American warships steamed out of Pearl Harbour, and it was later reported that a Japanese aircraft-carrier had been sunk. Four Japanese submarines and six aircraft are also said to have been destroyed.

The Columbia Broadcasting System claims to have picked up a message saying that two British cruisers were sunk by Japanese planes attacking Singapore. This report is completely without confirmation. Another message, equally without support but well within the bounds of possibility, is that Japanese warships have been engaged by British and American naval units in the Western Pacific. This report emanates from the Tokio correspondent of a Japanese newspaper in Shanghai quoting an announcement by Imperial Headquarters. Early reports that Manila, the American base in the Philippine Islands, had been raided were followed by messages that all is quiet there, apart from aircraft taking off either on reconnaissance or to engage Japanese shipping.

Official Death-Roll

By far the heaviest onslaughts were on the air and naval establishments at Hawaii. Three waves of 50 aircraft (apparently operating from at least three aircraft carriers) set fire to the battleship Oklahoma in Pearl Harbour and caused heavy casualties at Hickman Field aerodrome. The Japanese claim that the Oklahoma was sunk. Tonight it was officially announced that military casualties alone totalled 104 killed and 300 wounded on the island of Oahu, where both Pearl Harbour and Hickman Field are situated. Civilian casualties are believed to be high. Bombing raids are reported to have been followed by parachute troops, but no details of this attack are available beyond a broadcast from Honolulu that the Army and Navy appeared to have the situation in hand. According to Washington, Japanese submarines which "appear to be strung out between Hawaii and the American coast," have already claimed a United States transport and another ship. The transport was carrying "lumber rather than men." Anti-aircraft guns roared into action as the first wave of bombers appeared over Oahu. Three aircraft were shot down. More waves followed swiftly, and Unites States fighters were soon in action. People cheered as the fleet steamed out. Bombs dropped on Honolulu, world-famed holiday resort. Seven people were killed and many injured. Later the White House announced that heavy damage had been caused. Two raiders were shot down in the Honolulu area. Among those killed were two Japanese. Honolulu is only a few miles from Pearl Harbour. Waihaiwa, 20 mile north-west of Honolulu, was made a special target by the raiders, who, swooped low and machine-gunned the streets, killing or wounding many civilians. One bomber was shot down in flames and crashed near Waihaiwa Court House. Pilot and gunner were burned to death. Civilians have been cleared from the streets by military and naval units with the aid of volunteers, all of whom are carrying arms. Many people have left for the hills to watch the attack. An N.B.C. broadcast direct from Honolulu stated:
"The public have been advised to keep to their homes and out of the way of the Army and Navy. There has been severe fighting going on by air and sea. It has been a very sever attack, but the Army and navy , it appears, now have matters under control."
Hawaiian defence officials stated that the attack did not take them by surprise. They had been waiting for it for a week. The attacks were carried out in waves, the planes coming in at a great height, but swooping low in dive attacks. The dive-bombers were accompanied by at least one torpedo-carrying plane, which attacked warships in the harbour. The United States Navy has sent out an urgent call to all officers on leave to report immediately to the naval districts in which they were situated. All american ships in the Pacific have been ordered to port. Panama and the Canal zone have been blacked out, and the Panama police announce that about 100 Japanese residents have been arrested. Mr. Stimson, Secretary of War, has ordered the entire United States Army into uniform. this applies to 1,600,000, including thousands of officers and men who are on duty in administrative post and hitherto have been allowed to wear civilian clothes.

Japan's Aim

Military experts here assume that Japan's aim is to put as much of the American Fleet out of action as possible and damage its bases in order to hamper naval movements west of Honolulu while she makes a smashing attack on Thailand or Singapore, or both. According to an official announcement here, "all naval and military activities" on the island of Oahu, where Pearl harbour is situated, were raided, apparently at the same time. Tonight Mr. Roosevelt ordered the Army and Navy to carry out undisclosed orders, already prepared for "the defence of the United States." The United States Navy announced that a censorship had been placed on all outgoing cablegrams and radio messages from the United States and its outlying possessions.

Malaya Ready

The attacks follow the announcement from Singapore today that British and Australian aircraft, operating 300 miles from their Malaya bases, had sighted a Japanese naval force rounding Cape Cambodia, at the entrance to the Gulf of Siam. These ships were steaming northwest towards Bangkok. In Malaya today British land, sea, and air forces were standing by in a state of instant readiness. All volunteers at Hong Kong were being mobilised today, following similar action at Singapore, and Army units have taken up their defence posts. The full Australian Cabinet is meeting tomorrow, the War Cabinet on Wednesday, and the War Council on Thursday.

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