Newspapers December 7th, 1941

Somerset Messenger The Somerset Messenger Gazette ran an editorial on Friday, December 5th, 1941, about the American attitude toward the war. The Prospect of War The attitude of the people of the United States in regard to the war with Japan, is truly amazing. It is readily admitted by almost everyone that we might be at war with Japan within a few days. There is as much as a 50-50 chance. Yet no one seems to give it a second thought. There is Christmas shopping to be done. We are confident that are Navy is strong enough to keep the Japanese occupied in foreign waters. The greatest and most tragic mistake made by happy people, however have been to decide that wars would be short and easy. That’s what the Germans were told when this one started. Japan look like a soft touch now, but we wonder how things will seem a year from now if we are involved in a war.

New York Times Those reading The New York Times on the morning of December 7th, 1941, saw the possibility of war on the front page. The top headline read “Roosevelt Appeals to Hirohito.” Hirohito was the emperor of Japan. Also on the front page was another article which gave false reassurance to the American people. The headline read “Navy is Superior to Any, Says Knox”. This article was about the just released Navy report from Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox. It stated. “I am proud to report that the American people may feel fully confident in their Navy. In my opinion, the loyalty, morale, and technical ability of the personnel are without superior.”