On This Day ... in 1842 & Others
Boats from HMS Persian, on anti-slavery patrol, captured the slaver Maria Segunda.
1915: The evacuation of British & Empire forces began at Gallipoli. Although the campaign had been a failure, the evacuation was undertaken skillfully & executed without loss
1917: As the United States declared war on Austria-Hungary, four US battleships arrived at Scapa Flow taking on the role of the Grand Fleet's Sixth Battle Squadron.
1941: Japanese troops landed at Kota Bharu in Malaya, the first attack in their "drive south". Two hours later, they mounted the attack on the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbour.
More than 300 planes from six Japanese carriers sank or disabled 19 ships (including six battleships); about 150 aircraft are destroyed on the ground. More than 2,400 military and civilian personnel were killed and another 1,178 were injured.
1949: As the Chinese Civil War continued, the government of Republic of China moved from Nanking to Taipei
1975: Indonesia invaded East Timor
Comments
...and in 1941 the Jaapnese bombed Pearl Harbor, sorry we got to the war so late.
Posted by: -keith in mtn. view | December 8, 2004 4:00 AM
Wouldn't have gotten into the war in Europe at all if it wasn't for Mussolini ...
The Declaration of War against Japan passed with one Pacifist opposed. The ones against Germany and Italy failed.
Italy declared War on the US on Dec. 10th, and Hitler followed suit the same day.
Congress was then able to pass a reciprocal DoW on Dec. 11th.
Posted by: Kristopher | December 8, 2008 6:28 PM
"The Declaration of War against Japan passed with one Pacifist opposed."
To be fair, Jeanette Rankin of Montana (first woman elected to Congress) was consistent - she voted "no" in 1917 as well. I have to admire sticking to your principles.
Of course, the problem with pacifism is that for you to continue to enjoy the luxury of following your conscienece, other people have to kill and die to prevent people who don't give a damn about your rights from taking over.
Col Beausaber
PS: How many "peace" demonstrators calling upon Japan to acknowledge its aggression in WWII do you think will show up at Pearl today compared to those damning the US at Hiroshima every year?
Posted by: Beausaber | December 7, 2009 1:17 AM
Perhaps it is lucky that Japan is not run by raving left wing despots or all this would have been expunged by the "educators" and Pearl would be another thing for Obama to apologize for.
Posted by: Chris Edwards | December 7, 2009 2:46 AM
Would not the attack in Malaya have been on the 8th of December due to being on the opposite side of the date line? I seem to recall that the Japanese assaulted Hong Kong on Dec 8th at 8am local time, only eight hours after the Pearl Harbour attack ie at 4pm on Dec 7th Hawaii time.
Posted by: Al_in_Cornwall(Canada) | December 7, 2009 4:41 AM
"Would not the attack in Malaya have been on the 8th of December due to being on the opposite side of the date line?"
You are correct, Malaya & the Philippines were attacked on Dec 8 local time.
Col Beausaber
Posted by: Beausaber | December 7, 2009 11:53 AM