WCAE Pittsburgh
News Report
December
7, 1941, c. 4:00 pm EST
Text:
"Japan's game became crystal clear today. Her
desire was war--war with The United States. The
peace talks now appear to have been just a subterfuge,
an attempt to gain time for her fleet to sail within
battle range of the American bases in the Philippines.
The blow struck the American public with lightning-like
suddenness. Entirely unsuspecting and apathetic
to the brewing war clouds, the public entered another
calm weekend, stirred only to mild interest when
the President last night, in a dramatic attempt
to appeal to the Emperor of Japan, to keep alight
the lamp of civilization. But suddenly this afternoon
a grave-faced Secretary Steve Early appeared and
announced that Japan has attacked Hawaii, with airplanes.
And here is Early's statement: 'Japan has attacked
Pearl Harbor from the air, and all naval and military
activities on the island of Oahu, the principle
American base in the Hawaiian islands.' Japan's
special envoy, Saburo Kurusu and Ambassador Nomura
visited Secretary of State Hull at 2:20 p.m. The
conference lasted only ten minutes. A State Department
announcement is expected momentarily. President
Roosevelt quickly sprang into action and ordered
the army and navy to use their full power for the
defense of The United States. As soon as word of
the attack was taken to the President, Mr. Roosevelt
ordered the army and navy to execute all previously
prepared plans for the defense of the United States.
Secretary of War Stimson ordered all War Department
personnel to report for duty tomorrow in uniform.
Just twenty minutes later, Secretary Early announced
that a second air attack had been reported, this
one on America's mighty army and navy bases in Manila.
America's outpost of the Pacific, mighty Pearl Harbor
navy base was also under heavy attack. A number
of attacking planes were sighted shortly after 8
o'clock this morning. Antiaircraft guns opened fire
when the planes dived low over the base and released
sticks of bombs, one after the other. Two warships
lying in the harbor were reported sunk. The planes
later returned to the attack. The Japanese have
drawn first blood. The attack was a complete surprise.
At Pearl Harbor, only minimum forces of the army
and navy were on Sunday morning duty. A pall of
heavy black smoke hung over Pearl Harbor. There
were no immediate reports from Manila. The American
naval base at [?], island of Luzon, was subjected
to a heavy attack. Army and navy authorities commanded
all forces to their stations to resist the attack.
There were no immediate reports here on the damage. In Washington, the attacking planes were identified
as Japanese, but official information was scanty."