The Japanese, without any warning, yesterday afternoon began war on the United States with air attacks on the naval base at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, and the adjacent city of Honolulu. The White House also announced an air attack on Manila, in the Philippines, but it could not confirm the report.
Imperial Headquarters in Tokio later announced that Japan had entered into a state of war with Britain and the United States in the Western Pacific from 6 a.m. to-day.
President Roosevelt has mobilised the Army and ordered all the armed forces to take up their war stations, and imposed a censorship.
As more than 150 planes took part in the attacks on Pearl Harbour and Honololu, it is thought that there must be at least three Japanese aircraft-carriers, and probably more, engaged. Several planes were shot down.
Considerable damage was done at Pearl Harbour and there were numerous casualties. It is officially announced that the Army casualties were 104 killed and 300 wounded. It is thought that these occurred when the airfield was hit. The civilian casualties are unknown.
The White House also announces that an Army transport carrying lumber has been torpedoed 1,300 miles west of San Francisco.
The Japanese yesterday took complete control at Shanghai, sank with all hands one of our small river gunboats, the Petrel, and seized an American gunboat.
A special meeting of both Houses of Parliament has been called for to-day, and Mr. Churchill will make a statement. Mr. Winant, the American Ambassador in London, saw Mr. Churchill last night.
JAPANESE MOVING TOWARDS THAILAND
Until this news was announced last evening attention has been concentrated on Thailand. It was reported from Singapore that a Japanese fleet was moving round the south of Indo-China in the direction of Thailand.
On Saturday President Roosevelt sent a personal message to the Emperor of Japan appealing to him to prevent war. Some quarters in the United States think that the Japanese militarists attacked suddenly to forestall the Emperor╒s reply.
