WAR DECLARED BY U.S.; 1,500 DEAD IN ATTACK ON HAWAII

By Associated Press.

WASHINGTON, Monday, Dec. 8.--Congress voted a formal declaration of war against Japan today, after President Roosevelt requested immediate action as an answer to Japan's "unprovoked and dastardly attack" on Hawaii.

President Roosevelt signed the declaration of war against Japan at 4:10 p.m., formally setting the nation to its task of achieving what he called an "inevitable triumph."

A united Congress acted swiftly after the President had revealed that American forces lost two warships and 1,500 had been killed and 1,500 wounded in the surprise dawn attack yesterday. The President asserted one battleship capsized in Pearl Harbor and a destroyer was blown up.

The Senate vote was 82 to 0.

The House vote was 388 to 1. Miss Jeannette Rankin, Republican, Montana, who voted against a declaration of war with Germany in 1917, was the lone member casting a negative vote. Representative Harold Knutson, Republican, Minnesota, who also voted against the 1917 declaration, voted for war against Japan.

Naval Victory Boasted by Japan

As Congress was acting, Japan boasted that she had won naval supremacy over the United States in the Pacific. The Japanese asserted in reports broadcast by the official radio in Tokyo, that they had destroyed two American battleships and one aircraft carrier and had damaged four other battleships and six cruisers.

A.D.N.B. news dispatch from Tokyo said a United States transport had been sunk with loss of 350 men near Manila.

In his epochal message to Congress, President Roosevelt made no mention of Italy and Germany as he asked for war against Japan.

Both branches cheered to the echo President Roosevelt's appeal for the war declaration.

Unprovoked and Dastardly Attack

"I ask," the Chief Executive told a joint session, "that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire."

The President said that yesterday was "a date which will live in infamy."

Resolutions making the formal war declaration had already been prepared in the Senate and House, before the momentous joint session addressed by the President.

As a matter of fact, the Army and Navy had been fighting since a few moments after the surprise attack yesterday and the nation generally had taken on a war-time tempo.

The White House made public the first official information on the scope of American losses at Pearl Harbor shortly before President Roosevelt went to the Capitol.

An evidence of the fast-moving protective measures was seen in Attorney-General Biddle's announcement that 736 Japanese aliens had been arrested during the night in the United States and Hawaii.

Troops had assumed guard posts throughout the nation at public defense industries, key buildings, strategic bridges and public utilities.

American Operations Still Continuing

The text of the White House announcement follows:

"American operations against the Japanese attacking force in the neighborhood of the Hawaiian Islands are still continuing. A number of Japanese planes and submarines have been destroyed. The damage caused to our forces in Oahu in yesterday's attack appear more serious than at first believed.

"In Pearl Harbor itself, one old battleship has capsized and several other ships have been seriously damaged.

"One destroyer was blown up. Several other small ships were seriously hit. Army and Navy fields were bombed, with the resulting destruction of several hangars and a large number of planes were put out of commission.

"A number of bombers arrived safely from San Francisco during the engagement -- while it was under way.

"Reinforcements of planes are being rushed and repair work is under way on ships, planes and ground facilities.

"Guam, Wake, the Midway Islands and Hongkong have been attacked. Details of these attacks are lacking.

"Two hundred marines -- all that remained in China -- have been interned by the Japanese near Tientsin.

"The total casualties on the Island of Oahu are not yet definitely known but, in all probability, will amount to about 3,000. Nearly half of these fatalities, the others being wounded.

"It seems clear from the reports that many bombs were dropped in the City of Honolulu, resulted in a small number of casualties."

Text of War Declaration

The text of the joint resolution adopted by Congress declaring war follows:

"Declaring that a state of war exists between the Imperial government of Japan and the government and the people of the United States and making provisions to prosecute the same.

"Whereas, the Imperial government of Japan has committed repeated acts of war against the government and the people of the United States of America; therefore, be it

"Resolved by the Senate the House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled, that the state of war between the United States and the Imperial government of Japan which has thus been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared; and that the President be and he is hereby formally declared; and that the President be and he is hereby authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United States and the resources of the government to carry on war against the Imperial government of Japan; and to bring the conflict to a successful termination of all of the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States."

There was no demonstration following the Senate vote. The members immediately turned to routine matters.

"In this shocking hour words will not express our feelings nor our righteous indignation," said Representative Luther Johnson, Democrat, Texas.

Johnson called the Japanese attacks "dastardly treachery characteristic of the totalitarian outlaws, who talk peace when they have already drawn the dagger to strike.

Representative Katharine Byron, Democrat, Maryland, said she was "willing to give her sons" and that she was "100 per cent for going into this thing and beating the Japanese."

In the House, Representative Martin of Massachusetts, the Republican leader, won thunderous applause as he pledged "unqualified support" to the President and expressed the hope that not one vote would be cast against the resolution. "There can be no peace," Martin shouted, "until the enemy is made to pay in a full way for his dastardly deed. Let us show the world we are a united nation."

Stephen Early, presidential secretary, said there had been a tremendous public reaction throughout the country to Japan's assault. It was expressed, he said, in hundreds of telegrams and telephone calls pouring into the White House.

Discussing Japan's ability to make a surprise attack on Hawaii, Early said that apparently the carrier-based Japanese planes were of the dive-bomber type.

The attack came about daybreak, Early said, so that the carriers would have had all night to approach the islands in the darkness.