The photo shown at the link will be on the front page of tomorrow’s edition - Homer.
http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1941/dec41/f22dec41.htm
Allies make plans in Washington
Monday, December 22, 1941 www.onwar.com
Churchill and Roosevelt at the Arcadia conference.In Washington... The Arcadia Conference is being held. The purpose of the meeting is war planning by the British leader, Churchill and the American President Roosevelt as well as their Chiefs of Staff and other political leaders from both countries. Decisions made at the conference included a confirmation of policy to Germany First as well as the establishment of a Combined Chiefs of Staff to direct the entire Allied military endeavor. British General Wavell is appointed to control operations in the East. Plans are also made for a buildup of US forces in Britain prior to a land invasion of Europe, and the continuation of bombing offensive in Europe.
On Wake Island... After continuing the bombardment of the island the Japanese land 200 men on the island to fierce resistance from the 450 US Marines stationed there.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/22.htm
December 22nd, 1941
UNITED KINGDOM:
Minesweeper HMS Algerine launched.
ASW trawler HMS Inkpen launched.
Minesweeping trawler HMS Othello commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)
GERMANY:
U-380 commissioned.
U-193, U-531 laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)
U.S.S.R.: Moscow: After a week of talks between Stalin and Eden, and their military and diplomatic advisers, the two sides achieved “identity of views” on the conduct of the war against Hitlerite Germany, according to the official communiqué.
On questions relating to the postwar settlement, however, the communiqué is evasive. “An exchange of views,” it says, “providing much important and useful material which will facilitate the future elaboration of concrete proposals.” The talks were rounded off with a banquet in the Kremlin given by Stalin. Earlier, Eden was taken to the battlefront. He said the Russian troops were “truly magnificent”. He met German PoWs who wore only thin unlined coats and poor boots, and lacked gloves; they were suffering in the bitter cold.
Eden arrived in Moscow by a roundabout route that included a 72-hour train journey. In five sessions he talked with the Russians for some 20 hours.
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: The US submarine S-38 sailing from Manila sinks the Hayo Maru, a cargo ship of 445 tons during this war patrol. During the patrol she will fire torpedoes at 5 ships. (Skip Guidry)
Japanese soldiers land at Lingayen, aiming for Manila.
The US Provisional Tank Group goes in support of General Wainwright (commander North Luzon Force) at Damortis on Lingayen Gulf. Wainwright sends his corps cavalry (the 26th Cavalry (PS)) forward to act as the divisional screen. 26 Cav’s Scout car platoon runs into the Japanese 48th Reconnaissance and 4th Tank Regiments north of Damortis and falls back. Damortis is important because as long as it is held the Japanese invasion force is bottled-up between the landing beaches and the mountains.
Japanese infantry supported by aircraft began assaulting Damortis at 1300.
26 Cav called for assistance. Wainwright requested a company of tanks from Weaver. Weaver could only send a platoon of five tanks because of shortage of fuel. They met the enemy light tanks about 6 miles north of Damortis. The lead Stuart was hit and burst into flames. Each of the other four Stuarts were hit and they all withdrew to Rosario where they were destroyed by air attack the next day.
Morton says the Stuarts were hit by 47mm “anti-tank” fire. If he means that the Japanese tanks carried a 47mm gun, then the Stuarts were badly outgunned. However, if these were infantry anti-tank guns, then the US tank-men had been ‘Rommelled’ - unsupported US tanks attacking an enemy mixed infantry-armour force. If so, they wouldn’t be the last to make this mistake.
A further problem arose later that afternoon because of the divided command (i.e. that the tanks were not placed under Wainwright’s command). At dusk the rest of C Coy 192 Tank Battalion pulled out of joint defensive positions (with 26 Cav) and fell back on Rosario, citing orders from Brig-Gen Weaver. 26 Cav stayed in position. As C Coy left, Japanese tanks attacked the 26 Cav rear guard and got among the horses, causing heavy casualties. Despite this disaster, 26 Cav maintained its cohesion and successfully covered the withdrawal from Damortis and Rosario. It was to repeat this performance several times more in the bitter weeks ahead proving the value of well-led cavalry in a withdrawal. (Michael Alexander)
WAKE ISLAND Since the 11th the island has been regularly bombarded by the Japanese. Today the 2nd landing attempt is offshore, supported by aircraft from carriers Hiryu and Soryu yesterday and today. The first landings against fierce resistance from the defending Marines.
Task Force 14, the Wake Relief Expedition, including the USS Saratoga is recalled at 0911 hours (Hawaii Time) with the lead ships 515 miles northeast of Wake. (Gordon Rottman)
Major James P. S. Devereux, the commander of the Wake Island Detachment, 1st defence Battalion, spends a lot of time in consultation with First Lieutenant William W. Lewis, the commander of Battery E. Battery E was the closest 3-inch antiaircraft battery to Wake’s south beach, the most probable scene of a Japanese landing. Devereux and Lewis compute the distances, azimuths, and fuse settings required for Battery E to shower the shoreline with accurate airbursts. (Gregory J. W. Urwin, Temple University)
AUSTRALIA: Boom defence vessel HMAS Karangi commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)
U.S.A.: The Arcadia Conference, in Washington DC, between the British and the US begins. They confirm the policy from Placentia Bay in August of Germany first. They also establish the Combined Chiefs of Staff for the entire Allied military effort. A general strategic program is approved of a US buildup in Britain and continuing the bombing offensive. The concept of further losses in the Pacific is accepted with the understanding that a stiff defence will hold these to a minimum. This conference will last through the 7th of January.
Submarine USS Grunion launched.
Destroyer USS Hambleton commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)
The Japanese were very busy while the US was still reeling from Pearl Harbor.
Has the media yet reported the full extent of our losses in Hawaii? I haven’t read it every day since I am on a borrowed computer.