Russ (aka Mogami) versus Tris (aka TJ)

[Tristanjohn]

[font="Times New Roman"]"We don't have a lot of details yet," said the naval liaison officer. "Early reports indicate, however, that the Japanese fleet was caught out in the open."[/font]

[Tristanjohn]

[font="Times New Roman"]"It's safe to say," the liaison officer said, "that enemy losses were not light."[/font]

[Tristanjohn]

[font="Times New Roman"]"We should have a more definite accounting in a day or so," he added.[/font]

[Tristanjohn]

[font="Times New Roman"]"We do know that a number of troop transports and freighters were hit."[/font]

[Tristanjohn]

[font="Times New Roman"]"But there's no way to be sure of actual enemy casualties at this time."[/font]

[Tristanjohn]

[font="Times New Roman"]"It looks at this time as if we accounted for five or six large transport ships, though," he added.[/font]

[Tristanjohn]

[font="Times New Roman"]More details are available on the USN counterattack at Wake Island.[/font]

[Tristanjohn]

[font="Times New Roman"]As more news filters in it is clear the Navy took a heavy toll of enemy shipping at Wake Island.[/font]

[Tristanjohn]

[font="Times New Roman"]Following the debacle of Pearl Harbor, this action has to be morale-building for Americans everywhere.[/font]

[Tristanjohn]

[font="Times New Roman"]And also serve as a stern lesson to the Japanese that they are now in a fight for their lives with an adversary no longer asleep on a Sunday morning.[/font]

[Tristanjohn]

[font="Times New Roman"]9-10 December 1941

On Wednesday the American carriers at Wake Island hit the Japanese invasion force once again.[/font]

[Tristanjohn]

[font="Times New Roman"]"Our carriers delivered repeated attacks," said a Naval spokesman.[/font]

[Tristanjohn]

[font="Times New Roman"]"We hit the enemy hard."[/font]

[Tristanjohn]

[font="Times New Roman"]"He sustained heavy casualties."[/font]

[Tristanjohn]

[font="Times New Roman"]"We don't have an exact number of enemy losses yet."[/font]

[Tristanjohn]

[font="Times New Roman"]"And while a few of his ships might have escaped, from what I hear our boys did a bang-up job."[/font]

[Tristanjohn]

[font="Times New Roman"]Naval authorities said it is likely the Japanese lost up to ten warships and transports from the attacks over two days.[/font]

[Tristanjohn]

[font="Times New Roman"]Naval headquarters released a statement to the effect that this represented a serious setback to the Japanese.[/font]

[Tristanjohn]

[font="Times New Roman"]"They'll have a hard time putting a happy face on this for their Emperor," an official was overheard to say.[/font]

[Tristanjohn]

[font="Times New Roman"]"The way I hear it Halsey ran out of targets, or he'd still be out there pounding away."[/font]