Evening star., 1941-12-29
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
HONOLULU. Dec. 29.-Dispatche
sent while death rained from sky
and sea on virtually shelterlesS
Wake Island sketched tersely today
how less than 400 marines. with
only four planes aloft, held off
numerically superior japanese for
IA days, bagging II aircraft and 5
ships before being overpoWered.
Probably no military force in
American history, not even the de-
tenders of the Alamo, ever fought
against greater odds nor with
greater effect in view of those
Odds" acclaimed the Navy in sum-
marizing the reports for the first
time.
Nor did those tough marines once
admit defeat.
The issue is in doubt" read the
last dispatch sent on December %
Attack after attack was hurled
back. Beset by 200 planes during
those IA days, the little garrison,
knowing there could be no reinforce
ments from Hawaii, $500 miles
away. loosed such deadly fire that
the japanese had to abandon low
flying assaults for time.
Account Given by Navy.
The account of the heroic defense
of Wake Island, as released by the
Navy, follows:
This is part, and only a part. Of
the story Of the battle of Wake
Island. Its compilation was taken
from official dispatches sent while
the battle ragged. when time was
precious and no words wasted.
Therefore, it is devoid of any but
the simplest facts.
The battle began almost at the
same time as the assault launched
against Pearl Harbor The day and
hour was different because Wake
Island lies west of the International
dateline 1t was Sunday, the 7th,
in Honolulu, Monday, 'the- 8tn.' on
Wake. The battle ended sometime
after 5 pm, December %, Wake
time. That was the hour of the
dispatching of the last report from
Wakes defenders to Headquarters
OF the 14th Naval District at Pearl
Harbor. The report said that the
enemy was on the island and that
several ships and transport was
moving in. Shortly afterward the
Wake radio fell silent, not to be
heard again.
Official reports indicate that
probably NO military force in Amer
ican history, not even the defenders
of the Alamo, ever fought against
greater odds nor with greater effect
in view of those odds. The reports
show that during the IA days of
Wakes siege not fewer than 200
japanese planes bombed and ma
chine-gunned the tiny isles defend
ers. This figure does not include
those in the final attack, whereof
the number is unknown. But as
many as so bombers, some four
motored seaplanes, attacked the
island in a single raid. During the
closing days of the siege they (the
defenders) had only two and finally
one plane These were patched to-
gether between flights. Nevertheless.
Marine flyers, plus anti-aircraft
batteries. managed to bring down
at least II enemy planes. After the
first surprise attack, the enemy ac-
quired healthy respect for this
defense combination and gave up
low-altitude strafing and bombing
for high-level attack. Even SO, until
the garrison was overwhelmed by
landing force, the Marines, flyers
and i-aircraft batteries continued
to give a good account of themselves.
Attack by Land Planes.
THE first attack on the eighth was
made by between 20 and 80 twin
engined bombers. apparently of
medium class. These were land
planes and possibly from Japans
inundated islands south of Wake.
They carried light bombs and were
armed with incendiary cannon and
machineguns. Four of the II Marine
planes based on the island were in
the air when the enemy appeared
in a low glide out of a cloud bank
The other eight planes were being
serviced. The enemy went for these
at once. Seven were total losses from
bomb hits and fire and only the REM
nants of the eighth salvagable The
landing field was damaged but re-
manned useable. Also, enemy bombs
failed to find Marine stores and
aviation gasoline. The gasoline sup
ply of the Pan American AirWayS'