CBS World News – January 7th, 1947
January 7th, 1947
CBS World News
"The world today. The Columbia Broadcasting System now presents a summary of the all the important world news today. Reports from CBS correspondents by trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific short wave radio, and the latest developments as received by the Columbia's news room here in New York. Tonight, we bring you a special report on the latest events that have shocked America."
"Seven days ago everyone in New York, including myself, awoke only to hear the deafening explosions crackle through the morning streets. Confusion gripped the city as men stood in the street and watched in a mix of fear and amazement at the formations above them. Many looked up and thought it as a training exercise. Unlike British citizens, who have been under the peril of German bombardment for years now, this was a new experience. Those in the street unknowingly put themselves in danger, and many were killed as a result. As the morning drew out, it had become apparent that the German Kriegsmarine had launched an attack on the naval group stationed in the New York harbor. Our Naval correspondent is with us tonight."
"Good evening, and thank you for having me Mr.Daly"
"The German attack came as a complete surprise to our forces nobody had expected such an attack, even after the Pearl Harbor raid. While the extent of losses and casualties on both sides are not fully apparent yet, it is clear several American ships were sunk at port. Among the fiery remains in the harbor lay eight groups of transport ships, each group enough to carry one full division worth of equipment and men. One carrier was severely damaged, and by noon it lay almost entirely submerged. One battleship has split in half and four cruisers were damaged beyond repair. An unknown amount of destroyers were sunk, as some appear to be in repairable condition. This disaster is one of the worst to occur on American soil."
"The attack would not go without revenge. The 1st Carrier Task Force, stationed near Washington DC, moved out to strike the German carriers in their trip across the Atlantic back to France. However, as it would soon become apparent, the Germans had no intention on retreating; they wanted to inflict a similar defeat on the American navy as they had on the Royal Navy late last year"
"Unaware of the trap that was set, the 1st Carrier Task Force moved out to find the German fleet. Around the time when our patrol craft found their fleet just North of Bermuda, theirs had found ours. To our shock, the Germans fleet was not headed towards occupied France, it was headed south to our carriers moving to find it."
"The ensuing battle lasted two days. As the torpedo bombers and fighters engaged their opposition, battleships ranged in on eachother and began a grueling fight. As this engagement was occurring, a group of German vessels containing a carrier and battlecruiser with screening vessels closed in behind the American fleet. Running low of aircraft and with several ships heavily damaged or sunk, the admiral decided to break off the engagement and retreat to the cover of Washington, where several patrols of aircraft were on high alert and patrolling the coast."
"Only four months ago Germany had launched a similar raid on the British Royal Navy. The Royal Navy was sunk in its entirety in an ambush off of Liverpool, similar as to what happened here, as its ships pursued to attack the German carriers responsible."
"However badly beaten our fleet was, we came out better then our allies had. Narrowly avoiding disaster by a timely withdraw, we managed to preserve most of our fleet to fight another day."
"The Germans did not go unscathed. Four German carriers were sunk, and the remaining two in their group were damaged. This gives command a chance to clear up the Atlantic of the U-boat peril that has gripped the Atlantic for the past six years."
"Thanks for being on the air tonight, it was a pleasure having you with us."
"Thank you for having me on the air."
"And now back to our regular programming, as presented by John Daly."
"In Asia, Nationalist China and Manchukuo have surrendered unconditionally to the United States of America. This has been the end result of hard fighting by American marines over the past few years in Asia. Seoul was captured two nights ago as Japanese forces continue to retreat and are being pushed down to a narrow strip of coastline in South Korea. With the conclusion of the East Asian campaign, American Marines have begun their transportation to unspecified locations. The secrecy of such movements has been of utmost concern due to the increased activity of German naval forces recently against the Allied navies."
"In Europe, German forces have occupied Belfast. The British city in Northern Ireland fell shortly after the Royal Navy was defeated off of Liverpool. This will make it harder for essential supplies to reach Britain, of which there are already critical shortages, as now the island is almost completely sealed off by German naval and air forces."
German Losses
KMS Seydlits (CV)
KMS Barbarossa (CV)
KMS Otto Lilienthal (CV)
KMS Richthofen (CV)
KMS Scharnhorst (BC)
American Losses
USS Saratoga (CV)
USS Leyte (CV)
1 Unknown sunk @ port (CV)
USS Tennessee (BB)
USS California (BB)
1 Unknown sunk at Port (BB)
USS Indianapolis (CA)
USS Louisville (CA)
USS Houston (CA)
USS Salt LAke City (CA)
USS Chicago (CA)
USS Augusta (CA)
USS Destroit (CL)
USS Richmond (CL)
USS Omaha (CL)
USS Milwaukee (CL)
USS Marblehead (CL)
4 Unknown sunk at Port (CL)
4 Destroyers
~3 Destroyers sunk @ port
2 Transport squadrons
8 Transport squadrons sunk @ port