The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980, December 08, 1941, Image 2

The Oregon statesman., December 08, 1941, Page 2, Image 2

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Newspaper Page TextPAGE TWO The OREGON STATESMAN. SALEM. Oregon. Monday Morning. December 8. 1941 Japan Attacks Are Spreading Siam Invaded, Army Says 10 1 Die at Hawaiian Field (Continued From Page One) anesip invasion and said em pi re forces were engaging the foe. There was little news of US defensive actions, except the report that a number of the attacking planes at Honolulu had been shot down in dog fights over the city; an un confirmed report that a Jap anese aircraft carrier had been sunk off Hawaii; and announcement that US army and navy forces had started carrying out secret instruc tions long since issued to them in event of just such an emergency. A formal US declaration of war could not come until to day at the earliest, and Brit ain summoned her parliament to meet today for similar ac tion. President Roosevelt, the cabinet and congressional leaders, met Sunday night. A Tokyo radio broadcast said informed Japanese sources believed Germany would declare war on the United States within 24 hours, but the Germans left this point entirely open since their alliance with Japan calls for aid only in case Japan is attacked. The Dutch government in London, the Dutch East In dies, Canada, and the little Central American nation of Costa Rica, near the blacked out Panama Canal Zone, quickly declared war on Japan. At the exact moment Ja pan was irrevocably embark ing her course of "conquer or die," her emissaries in Washington were seeking still another appointment to continue the peace talks with which they have consumed the time since last August, with every protestation of good faith. Finally, when they saw Secretary of State Hull and gave him the latest statement of Japan's position, he told them he never had seen a document "so crowded with falsehoods and distortions." With embarassed smiles, the Japanese left. First announcement that the Japanese had attacked Manila in the Philippines ap peared premature, but subse quently a pro-axis radio sta tion in Shanghai declared there had been an attack which caused great damage. In both Manila and Hono lulu, said ttie Shanghai broad-' cast, the Japanese used dive bombers to cause terrific de struction and many deaths. Germany, officially and gleefully, declared: "As a result of constantly increasiflg warmongering of the American President Roosevelt in recent weeks, the first clashes between Jap anese and United States armed forces occurred to day." Details of Japan's explosive rupture of the peace of the Pacific came from many sources. County Defense Council Workers Hold Sunday Session r - f fry U li- C X P"mWvL A i 4- jfe H?tH. a life i"friVvli4v; ulf 1 iM' II : rPk . Ar 1 Mil ii 1 dJ iff t ri ' !r! ti I I J Snapped on the courthouse steps Sunday afternoon as they left their emergency session there, were Marion County Civilian Defense council department heads. v Front row, left to riht: County Co ordinator Bryan H. Conley; Tom Wlndtshar, vice-chairman of the county council; Ed Colby, registrar and liaison officer; Mayor W. W. Chadwick of Salem; L. F. LeGarle, Salem defense chairman, and Dr. Henry Morris, head of necessities division. Second row. Dr. Ralph Purvine, medical; W. M. Hamilton, manager Willamette Val ley division of Portland General Electric company; Tom Hill, morale, Verne Robb. Salem Hunters' and Anglers' club, rifle corps. Rear, EJ lice C Charlton, head of Salem police reserves; L. L. Pittenger, county under the direction of .the sup- police reserves chairman, and Chandler Brown, utilities. Present at rintendent the meeting but not pictured were Homer Smith, jr.. ARP chair man; Harry V. Collins, telephone company district manager, and Wayne Perdue, communications chairman. Orders State Guard Start Sprague Proclaims Emergency; Civilians Put on Alert (Continued from page 1) manded by Brig. Gen. Alvin C. Baker, former commander of the 186th infantry (national guard). The order for the state guard Immediately raised speculation whether a special session of the legislature would be called to appropriate funds for the guard. .The 1941 legislature au thorized creation of the guard, to be financed by military de partment funds, but officials here said there Is not enough money available. The text of the governor's statement: 1. I am declaring a state of unlimited emergency, the text of which will be prepared and made public Monday. 2. I have directed Superin tendent Charles P. Pray of the state police to take general charge of police and guard duty throughout the state. 3. All sheriffs and local po- authorities are instructed, BULLETINS (Continued from page one.) Moscow and Leningrad and recapture Rostov within two weeks in a move linked with the outbreak of war in the Pacific. , LONDON, Dec. 7 ( AP) A German radio broad cast heard here said Sunday night that President Roosevelt has at last got his war, which he has always looked for." "We learn in the last few minutes," the annouhcer said, "that as a consequence of continued provocation it now, at last, has come to an American-Japanese conflict." NEW YORK, Dec. 7 (AP) The Associated Press has been advised by communications agencies that the navy has invoked a censorship on Manila a'nd Honolulu, prohibiting messages "outbound" from both Pacific points. SHANGHAI. Monday, Dec. 8 ( AP) The Japanese have sunk the British gunboat Petrel as it lav off the international settlement waterfront. The United States gunboat Wake, nearby, was not damaged. Japanese bluejackets, or marines, have occupied the waterfront of the international settlement. Armed Forces To Be Upped Enlisted Reserves to Be Called; Ages 28 To 35 May Be Drafted (Continued from page 1) registered under the draft act would be liable for immediate call to training. These men were given a de ferred classification by congres sional act a few months ago. The legislation, however, speci fied that this deferrment would cease automatically if the na tion went to war. Many of these men may be given their scheduled Christmas holiday leaves, the war depart ment indicated Sunday night, re gardless of the sudden emerg ency. Brigadier General Alexander D. Surles, chief of the public rela tions branch, told reporters that "as far as is known Christmas leaves will not be cancelled, ex cept in the case of certain desig nated units" which he did not identify. Other officials said that In the meantime local commanders who had granted holiday leaves were authorized to rescind them without reference to the war department. Dispatches indi cated such action was taken promptly at various posts. Local commanders were said to have authority also to withhold leaves not yet granted. Chairman May (D-Ky) said it would take the house military committee "only an hour or two" Monday to approve legislation to remove the present prohibition against use of the army's national guard and selectees outside the western hemisphere. Hawaiian Ham' Tells Salem Radioman of Things Amiss ' This looks bad! I can't stay in this place!" An excited, doubtless frightened voice spoke those words over the 20-meter amateur radio band Sunday forenoon, tipping off Stephen C. Mergler, chief of The Statesman news staff and chair- of the Oregon Amateur FDR Set for War Message man Radio Defense system, a branch of the state defense council that something was amiss in the Hawai ian islands. Mergler said he chanced to tune this amateur band, for the first time in several weeks, pay ing little attention to signals heard until the strained voice of the Hawaiian operator, identified by his K6 call letters, issuing from the loudspeaker of his shortwave receiver. "Can't talk any more," the voice said. "Signing off; you take over." Then the Hawaiian operator shut off his station, and a Salt Lake City amateur responded: "Okeh, but you didn't say what was the matter. 73s The Hawaiian operator returned to the air long enough only to explain: "I'm in the army and can't tell you. K6 signing off." County Heads Stay at Posts Defense Council Set to Open Day Office; Use of Phone Urged (Continued from page 1) defense organization early Sun day afternoon made final prepa rations to remove the name "re serves" from the various branches of service they represent. First to be called into active service of civil defense person nel, police reserves from over the time. It should be emphasized county, outside of Salem, are to J that the message to congress has ttiuui -J n it r-iiwK nn urn ut i jjw D;t; I not yet been written and its tenor Chemeketa streets in Salem. will of course, depend on further Cabinet, US Leaders Meet Sunday Night; Isle Attack told (Continued from page 1) them all information received up to that time and gave them also - other information not yet verified and which at the time had to be classified as rumor. The president told them of doubtless heavy losses sustained iy the navy and also large losses sustained by the army in the island of Oahu. "The legislative leaders ap proved the request of the presi dent to address a joint session of the house and senate on Monday at 12:30 p. m. eastern standard Rating Given On US Ships NKW YORK. Dec. 7-(.-V)-The US UattU - hips West Virginia and Ok lahoma, unofficially reported1 hit in a I'm ific)cean engagement, are ships of 31.800 and 29,000 tons. respectively. j The West Virginia was coin-j pleted m 1 9123 and its normal J complement was Midi officers and, men iis the fleet flagship. The Oklahoma was commissioned in 1!H and carried a complement of 1301 The West Virginia's armament includes eight l(-inch guns; 12 fne-mi heis and eight 5-inch anti aircraft guns. The Oklahoma is aimed with ten 14-inch guns; 12 five-inch guns and eight 5-inch anti-aircraft guns. Kadi luis provision for three aircraft BOISE. Idaho, Dec. 7-(JP-Availability of equipment will con tinue to determine how fast men may be taken into the army, said Brig. Gen. Lewis B. Hershey, na tional director of the selective service system, in commenting on effects of the Japanese declara tion of war. General Hershey has been visit ing western state induction cent ers. "We have inducted 800,000 men truly the cream of the crop into the army in the past year, he commented here. "What future policy the selective serv ice system might take depends entirely on what the army be lieves it needs in the way of men." There is no question of person nel, the general added. Avail ability of equipment, as it has right -along, will determine how last nun will be taken mto the army. "Selection of niin for the armud forces has been very careful to date." Hershey explained. "With not much more than a twist of the wrist congress could decrease the age limit, eliminate dependency us an exemption", lower the health re quirements or do any of a number. of things." Fifteen Oregon county de fense coordinators received first instructions from Jerrold Owen, state coordinator, late Sunday afternoon via the Oregon Ama teur Radio Defense system, ad junct of the state defense coun cil. C. N. Olson, Salem radio telephone net control operator. Olson opened his s t a ti o n, W71CA, shortly after 3 p. m. and found all member stations, all but one located at important western Oregon points, waiting to be That definite duties probably would be assigned at that ses sion was indicated by Bryan H. Conley. county defense co ordinator, who called the meet ing. Also included in that session are to be district chairmen, who are to receive last-minute in structions to carry back to their other branches of service, Conley said. Utilities of the county have been under guard for several months, representatives of that phase of defense declared Sunday called. C. O. Douglas, West Sa- afternoon. No visitors have been lem, and Edward Heenan, Salem, assisted in relays and in advising Owen of replies from county de fense officials. Member stations ceased trans mitting at 7 p. m. upon receipt of radioed instructions from the federal communications commis sion, but stood by in case they were called by Owen's office. The FCC order permitting ama teur operation at the request of federal or local officials was re ported to Owen for consideration. Declarations By Dominions OTTAWA, Dec. 7.-(7P)-Canada declared war on Japan Sunday nitjht. Prime Minister W. L. Macken zie King made the announcement after a long emergency meeting of the cabinet. A declaration of war has been drawn up for formal submission to the king, to take effect as from todav, he said. (lily Receives TVT ii ew ijreener y While most residents of the city huddled over radios that blared forth war news and perused new.NpapiT extras Sunday, em ployes of the Salem Retail Trade bureau of the chamber of com nuice garlanded downtown stunts with cedar and hung red Christmas bells. An effort to provide more holi day atmosphere throughout the shopping district than has been possible in recent years has re sulted in careful planning of yule tide street decorations, members of the bureau said. Wheeler Says Tick Japs' BILLINGS. Mont., Dec. 7-i,Pi-"The only thing now is to do our best to lick hell out of them," Senator Burton K. Wheeler of ; Montana said Sunday after learn ing of the Japanese attack on Hawaii and the Philippines. .. "They must have gone crazy," he said, erlerring to Japanese military leaders. He said the attack was a com plete surprise and that so far as he knew no one in Washington had expected it. Wheeler will stop in Great Falls and Butte before returning to Washington unless congress is called into session for a declara tion of war, he said. He added NEW YORK, Dec. 8.WTV Aus tralia has declared war on Japan, the Columbia Broadcasting sys tem correspondent in that coun try reported Sunday night in a cable received here. CBS said the correspondent sent this cable: "Australia declared war on Japan." allowed in any portion of the tel ephone building other than the business office since sometime last summer, Harry V. Collins, district superintendent, told the gathering as he prepared to call company personnel into service to notify civil defense workers over the county of tasks assigned to them. Guards were stationed at Sa lem powerhouse and substa tion units of the Portland Gen eral Electric company Sunday afternoon, W. M. Hamilton, di vision manager, announced. "Ve have our own men on the job now but may call later for assistance from the civil re serves," Hamilton said. In a message to the public, Bry an H.. Conley, county defense co ordinator, urged that hysteria be avoided, that no one travel un duly and that the "complete co operation" revealed by heads of various netense council depart ments be offered by residents of" the county. Mayor W. W. Chadwick early Sunday afternoon asked that all unnecessary traffic be kept away from and off the municipal air port. Air raid protection personnel could go into duty in a matter of moments with the cooperation of telephone company workers and the radio in issuing notifications. Homer Smith, jr., assured as sembled defense workers at the information received between 11 o'clock Sunday night and noon Monday. Further news is coming in all the time. Attorney General B i d d 1 e made the first mention of a congressional resolution, but carefully refrained from hint ing whether it might be a war resolution. A resolution is the parliamentary title for certain forms of legislative action. Besieged by reporters as he left the White House conference, Biddle was asked if there was any advantage in having congress recognize the existence of a state of war. He replied: "I would rather not discuss that because it gets into the resolution tomorrow." In response to other questions, Biddle said that "vital powers" would be conferred upon the jpresident by a congressional dec laration of war which he would not otherwise have, but the jus tice department head declined to enumerate them. of state police, to be vigilant and guard 'essential structures and services'and hold enemy aliens under surveillance. 4 The civilian defense organ izations are, herewith, placed on the alert and ordered to stand by and cooperate with the local enforcement agencies. 5. The offer of the American Legion and other veteran or ganizations to assist is accepted, and they are requested to re port to civilian defense' coordi nators. 6. I have authorized an ex pansion of state police as may be required for police guard duty not otherwise provided for. 7. I have directed Adjutant General Wooton to proceed im mediately to organize the state guard under plans previously prepared by the military de partment. Brig. Gen. Alvin C. Baker will be in direct command. His cadre of officers has been cho sen and the points of organi zation will be announced Mon day. 8. Enemy aliens are directed to remain In their homes pend ing instructions from the au thorities. I shall as governor take fur ther steps as developments may warrant. T request the peo ple to proceed with their nor mal occupations and assure them that federal, state and lo cal authorities will be vigi lant In the protection of their lives and property. CHARLES A. SPRAGUE. SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 7-(AI)-"It's unimairin able!" That was the way Johio Muto, Japanese consul gen eral here, reacted to word the Japanese were bombing Honolulu and Manila. I had no intimation of it," he cried. "I don't know what I shall do, or whether there Is anything I can do." SHANGHAI. Monday, Dec. 8 (AP) The Japanese took over the American Shanghai Power and Light com pany this morning. WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 ( AP) Secretary Moreen thau Sunday night closed the nation's borders to Japa nese nationals and imposed a strict ban on any financial transactions by Japanese aliens. SINGAPORE, Monday, Dec. 8.--P:-An official report from the northern Malaya front said today that all Japanese surface craft fled at high speed under British fire r fter leaving a few troops on the beaches. The troops were hea :'v machine-gunned, the report said. Attending the conference were State Highway Engineer R. H. Baldock. State Defense Coordi nator Jerrold Owen, Budget Di rector David Eccles, Pray, Baker, Wooton. and the governor. WASHINGTON. Dec. 7.- -President Roosevelt has author ized the arrest of Japanese nationals regarded as "dangerous to the peace and security of the I nited States." Attorney General Biddle announced Sunday night. BALBOA, Canal Zone. Dec. 7.-A-Pi-The Panama Canal Zone, all-important link for I nited States naval operations in the At lantic and the Pacific, was placed on a wartime footing Sunday night for all-out protection. LOS ANGELES, Dec. 7.-."i-Radio Tokyo reported Sunday night, in a broadcast picked up by the NBC listening post, that Japanese naval ships have surrounded the Island of Guam and that an oil reservoir and hotel have been set afire. LOS ANGELES. Dec. 7.- T-A broadcast from Tokyo said Sunday night that 63 American soldiers had been disarmed at the international settlement in Tientsin. China. Honkong has been bombed for a second time, (t said. SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. T-i.-',,-The whole vast course of the Pa cific seaboard from Sitka, Alas- Ka, 10 trie fatiama canal was un der the grim, tense grip of wa reality Sunday night. ine mad, lightning thrust by n o Japanese planes and ships at the'OrCl 11011 "CSi Hawaiian islands threw the entire C Pacific into a battle area. But the declaration of war at NEW YORK, Dec. 7.-(.4'i -An axis-controlled radio station at Shanghai broadcast a Japanese report Sunday night salng "a large number of Thai military forces have commenced moving towards the southern border of Burma." Jap Navy Said LONDON. Dec. 1-:.V,-The Jap anese air force was described Tokyo found the army and navy : Sundav as the weakest of anv of county noon. courthouse Sunday after- "No step is to be left untaken to protect the lives and the welfare of our people and they will do well not to become hysterical with either fright or bravery," Conley declared. Protection of industries and highways is recognized as an in i itial undertaking, defense work ers declared, pointing out that the - ery nature of the work precludes decript ion of the processes and , means employed. Mayor M J. Butler of Indepen dence reported Sunday night that the police reserves and reserve firemen of that community met Sunday night and outlined their i pians lor comu.iumK any possime .un. nlders i i .1 ... . t saooi;iK- on uie pail 01 eni'my flnf ne aliens. About 40 members of the j two organizations were present and agreed upon a program which ; will insure constant vigilance. Martin Warns Nation Of Japan's Strength PORTLAND, Ore., Dec. 7-(J)-Major General Charles H. Martin, retired veteran of far eastern campaigns, warned Sunday that the Japanese "are not to be sneezed at." "Let us not fool ourselves," he told newsmen who sought his re action to the Japanese attack on United States' Pacific outposts, "in the Boxer Rebellion the Japa nese proved to me that they are great soldiers." that he assumed a war declara tion would be made Immediately. 1w , winiriflrrv -rnrrn--inn-rrn ' ' h ovarii i I ' testa ,:tl&mmm bases on the Pacific coastline on a war footing, generals end ad mirals declared. j All men were called to their posts. Blackouts were ordered at army and navy stations in Alas ka, and in the Panama canal zone. In San Francisco a state of emergency was declared. At Los Ajigeles air raid listen- j ing devices went into action. All along the coast this order went to airfields: "Activate your observation posts Immediately." AH recruiting offices for the United States marines were or dered open 24 hours a day; all quotas on enlistments were lifted. The commanding general for 'the west coast ordered manufac turers and industi ialists in the ninth corps area to put into ef i feet at once all measures to pre- ent sabotage The customs depaitment can celled all departure peimits for vessels. Movement of craft in har bors was restricted. The navy ordered all enlisted men of class M-l!, naval reserve to report tomorrow tor mot;iia- The navy, the army and the oir corps cancelled all furloughs and leaves Every sailor i ashore was ordered to his ship; ev the great world powers by the British Press association's a;r cor respondent. Press Association aided, how ever, that the addition of a dozen destroyers in the last 18 months had made the Japanese na.y the world's third strongest, those of Britain and the United States be ing ahead. The air correspondent said London experts believed Japan had not more than 3000 air planes of all types, and quoted an authority as estimating her fighter strength at not more than 310 miles an hour. All Japanese planes w-re ''in ferior copies of the w-: '.d's sec n d best aircraft des. fined s:x yea: ago," jin- coi respondent wiote. ,fHani9 Radios Are Shut Down WASHINGTON. !)n 7 V The fcdeial communications commis sion Sunday night prohibited all amateur lad.o opeia'.; n in ttie United States and its possessions except for stations specific ally au thorized by fediiiil, state and nv.i- erv military man to his unit and nicipal aumontics in o.ni.n.i,,,, " J - Step-up Asked In Production (Continued From Page One) ' f army procurement. Patterson also directed that all officers and rl titan em ployes of the war department agencies under hLs control "be required to work as many addi tional hours each day as Is necessary to get the da's work done." His memorandum follows: "It is essential U.a: curcment be put m'o h : at once. A'.! steps m .t to increase the spci : v cot; tracts are let. an.i rr.ax nv..m j-p d uC . -, ", iof.s "A:: off,.. ei., anj . pi ves to be rc'j...;e ; t many ad i.t.or.al I: ,,.: as is n i vs.- a : t' a k d 'T.c ' ...r p: - st g-ar ! taken ."i w.:-h ; -, i up ...an err.- :k o td h day '.:.e u.. Central American points entered but little into the Pacific war news Sunday, but the vital Panama Canal Zone must figure prominently in any trend of western hemisphere affairs. Gatun locks In this picture are an important part of the heavily -fortified canal. station immediately. j In prescribing a state of j emergency for San Francisco, j Mayor Arfgelo J. Rossi said there were "reports of submarines in the Pacific between this city and the Hawaiian Islands." He ordered all firemen to stand by. He ordered all strikes ended. He called on everyone to "be calm and resolute." Simultaneously all along the coast, steps were taken to keep Japanese aliens under surveil lance. The FBI and military police had this task. In California all Japanese in automobiles were to be halted and searched before they could cross the many huge bridges, including the great spans across San Francisco bay, which were under military guard. In San Francisco officials of the Japanese consulate tried to burn some documents, and with emergency matters Chairman James Lav. rente Fly said he had been in touch with ail major communications companies "with relation to the execution of pre-existing plans of the govern ment and the companies for co operation in the emergency." "It l suggested that ou ad dre a communication to all officer and employes in your branch or rrvlce exhorting thrm to make their maximum effort regardlest ol the long hours or hardship which may be Involved. "You are directed to take all necessary steps to bst munitions manufacture to the highest pos s.ble level Additional overtime work and second am; thud shifts must be arranged. Our prduc-nr...-: be put on a 24-h-ur-a-day ba.,;. You are directed to tak ii steps as v.iil achieve tha as quickly as poyblc " house on fire. The fire depart- Slli J)illl ( !anc'lU'l ment put it out . . . damage was slight. The state put at the disposi tion of the government twelve relief camps for possible use as concentration camps for inter ment of Japanese nationals. The Red Cross in San Francis co instructed all Red Cross chap ters on the coast to go on a 24 hour basis for handling of inquir ies concerning families of service men, for assistance to first aid groups, and for cooperation with set . their civilian defense organizations. In New York. Fri-co NEW YORK. Dec 7 - P-A!l foieign shipping in tn.s harl.r was cjnca'.led Sunday night as the coa-t gui'id doubled its pa ti 'Is against possible sabotage. SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. 7 -', -All sailing perm.ts for vessels in the port of San Francisco have been cancelled because of the war with Japan, Paul Leake, collector of customs, announced Sunday.