The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-01-09

HIS DdCCeT6Q IlOCeDOOK. It sal
 Landing attempt by 12 Jap ships, including light cruisers, destroyers gunboats, two troop or supply ships Jap casualties: One light cruiser, two destroyers, one gunboat, two bombers. Mote: That Japs closed in to 4,700 yards before five and three inch guns opened up at point blank range"
 Today Bayler's prosaic words were inscribed in the annals of Ameri- can heroism beside the classic com- mand of Colonel William Prescott at Bunker Hill: Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes," The full account of the heroes of Wake Island was made public by the Navy with revelation that seven Japanese warships not five as previously announced = were sunk before Wake succumbed after IA days of fighting.
 It was accompanied by President Roosevelt's offical citation of the Wake Marines for courageous con- duct-gallantry and heroism = de- votion to duty and splendid con- duct."
 How Marines Did It
 The full story of the battle of Wake made clear for the first time the manner in which the Marines took so heavy a toll of the Japa- nese attackers.
 Their coolness in withholding fire by their small battery of six g. inch guns and 12 3-inch guns was officially compared by the navy to the feat of the fighters of Bunker Hill. By standards of modern arma- ment 47e0 yards-a fraction more than two and a half miles = is as close or closer than "the whites Of their eyes" was to Prescott'S mus ket men.
 By holding back their fire the men of Wake blew a major DOT ton of the Japanese attack force out of the water
 Two accounts were made public by the navy of Wakes fight. One was Bayler's cay by day record of the fight by t--e marine garrison of 13 officers and 365 men-plus a seven-man medical detachment. The other was a brief report by Maj. Paul A. Putnam, commander of the marine air force of 12 planes marine fighting squadron 211 of marine aircraft group 21.
 Bsyler, like Putnam, is a marine air force officer, and both accounts deal chiefly with the action of the tiny marine air squadron. The re- ports were flown from Wake by patrol plane. They cover action through Dec. 20-two days before the garrison was overwhelmed. The navy co..,munique indicated, but did not state specifically, that Bay Ter left Wake with the reports.
 The reports revealed that in the initial Japanese air attack deliv- cred four hours and 58 minutes af- ter the garrison had received word of the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor the bulk of Wakes air force was lost.
 Yet despite the odds which mount ed as each day passed, the marine planes accounted for a verified total of one Japanese ship, one sub marine anG five planes, plus an- other four prbaobly destroyed and others damaged.
 Day-by-Day Account
 The navy released this synopsis of Bayler's day-by-day account:
 Dec. 8-7 a. m.-Received word bombing Oahu. General quarters station.
 Dec. 8-11:58 a. m. "A Jap bombers on northern course hit airdrome in close column of diyi- sion "V's" from 5000 feet. 100 pound Augmentation bombs and simul- taneous strafing. Casualties 25 dead. Seven wounded. Seven airplanes burned, destroyed.
 Dec. g. 11:45 a. nn.-27 Japs. Bombed hospital, Camp No. 2. Killed several patients. Three dead. Got one Jap plare.
 Dec. 10- 10:45 a. m. H Jap bonbers. No casualties.
 Dec. 11-5 a. Landing at- tempt by 12 Jap ships, including