Evening star., 1941-12-08
Smashing Victories,
Pacific Supremacy
Claimed by Japan
Sinking Of Two American
BottIeships and PIune
Carrier Is Reported

4oIA4os ANNoNdS, NSN' q NOAAiSAeA'
radio picked up by Associated
Press The japanese asserted today
they had won naval supremacy over
the United States in the Pacific
claiming by official or unofficial re-
ports the destruction of two Amer
lean battleships and an aircraft car
rier and the damaging of four battle
ships and six cruisers.
These, declared the Japanese, were
the principal results of the first shock
of their air-naval offensive.
The claim of supremacy appeared
In a commentary ry-resume broadcast
by Domei. which said any force the
United States now could muster
would be regarded as utterly made
nuate to accomplish any successful
outcome in an encounter with the
thus far intact japanese fleet.
Imperial headquarters, in an an
nouncement broadcast by Domel
said two battleShipS and a mine
sweeper had been sunk, four heavy
cruisers damaged, many merchant
ships seized and scores OF planes de-
stroyed ground and in the air in
Hawaii and the Philippines.
The communioue said also that a
United States aircarft carrier had
been sunk by submarine off Homo
lulu, although this is not con-
firmed."
Acknowledge Two Planes Lost.
So far as naval losses went, the
Japanese said they had escaped un-
scathed. and they acknowledged the
loss of only two planes in Philippine
actions.
The Japanese said the mine
sweeper. the 840-ton Penguin. was
sunk in an air attack early yesterday
on Guam. United States naval sta
ton.
Can italian broadcast quoted
Domei as listing the 33100-ton
PENNSYLVANIA and the 29,000-ton
Oklahoma as lost. Domei also
was reported to have said that
two United States deStroyers and
two oil tankers had been de-
stroyedD
Two Battleships Named.
Imperial headquarters identified
none Of the warships claimed sunk
except the Penguin, but early edi-
tions of Tuesday morning papers
carried unofficial identification of
the two battleships as the Oklahoma
and the 81 .800-ton West Virginia.
observers stressed the magni-
fcent early japanese success and
point out that it was reliably report
ed that the United States naval
strength stationed in Hawaiian
waters prior to the japanese attack
comprised approximately go per cent
of the United States entire naval
power" a Domei broadcast said.
Early losses have reduced the
American Navy at Hawaii by two
more capital ships, plus a single
aircraft carrier. six cruisers (sic).
Even the addition of the remain
der of the United States fleet to the
Hawaiian forces-Which is impos-
sible in view of the Atlantic situa-
tion-would bring the total strength
of the United States naval power in
the Pacific to II capital ships, "a
"A" class cruisers and 6 aircraft car
riers.
This force would be regarded as
utterly inadequate to accomplish any
successful outcome in an encounter
with the thus far intact japanese
fleet"
Claim 100 L. S. Planes.
The Japanese spoke little of the
first air assaults Sunday on Pear,
Harbor and other Hawaiian OBJ
jectives. but said that 80 or 60 Amer
ican planes had been shot down in
combat over Clark Field and 40
over Iba, in the Philippines.
The japanese Board of Informa
tion announced that about 100 Brit
ish and American nationals ano
other foreigners had been rounded
up yesterday morning throughout
the empire.
For the first time in history, Jap
enese cities were under wartime
blackout orders. Last night founc
Toxic black under "gorgeously star
lit skies" a Domei broadcast said
and most of the Toxic populace
seemed to remain indoors.
Streets Are Deserted.
streets are deserted save fol
downtown districts but dimly lighted
shapes go to and fro and traffic is
functioning almost as usual"
The German radio broadcast a
Toxic dispatch saying that Navy
Minister Admiral Shigetaro Shi-
mada laid a report on hostilities
thus far before the japanese cab
met council, with Premier Gen.
Hideki Tojo presiding.
II Planes DESTROYED.
('It is announced" the Ger
man broadcast said, that the
cabinet decided what further
measures should be taken Pre-
vious to the meeting of the cab
met, Foreign Minister Shigenori
Togo was received in audience by
the Emperor
Imperial headquarters announced
that airmen attached to Japanese
expeditionary forces in South China
had raided Northern Hong Kong
Twelve grounded British planes wer;
destroyed and heavy damage in
f1icted, the news agency said.
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