Geneva Convention Violated

SUN 3 DEC 1944
Pacific
Destroyer engagement in Ormoc Bay that began late the previous night continues. Destroyer Cooper (DD-695) is sunk, possibly by torpedo from escort destroyer Kuwa, 10°54'N, 124°36'E, but not before Cooper, along with Allen M. Sumner (DD-692) and Moale (DD-693), sinks Kuwa and damages her sistership Take, 10°50'N, 124°35'E. "Black Cat" PBY-5A picks up Cooper's survivors that night and the next day. One PBY carries 56 in addition to its 8-man crew. Allen M. Sumner is damaged by horizontal bomber, and Moale is damaged (possibly by Kuwa) in Ormoc Bay, 10°54'N, 124°36'E.

Hospital ship Hope (AH-7), fully illuminated in accordance with the dictates of the Geneva Convention, is attacked by Japanese torpedo planes but not damaged, 125 miles east of Mindanao.

Submarines Pampanito (SS-383), Pipefish (SS-388), Sea Cat (SS-399) and Searaven (SS-196) attack Japanese convoy in South China Sea off coast of French Indochina, in heavy seas and poor visibility. Pipefish probably torpedoes and sinks Coast Defense Vessel No.64, 18°36'N, 111°54'E; Pampanito torpedoes army cargo ship Seishin Maru, 18°20'N, 111°52'E, and Sea Cat or Searaven torpedoes tanker Harima Maru.

U.S. Navy land-based aircraft sink Japanese merchant tanker No.13 Nanshin Maru off Balikpapan, 01°22'S, 117°03'E; and merchant tanker No.18 Nanshin Maru off Borneo, 05°55'N, 117°03'E.

Europe
U.S. freighter Francis Asbury is mined in the Schelde River, 51°22'N, 03°53'W; of her 41-man merchant complement and 28-man Armed Guard, 9 of the former and 6 of the latter are killed, one merchant sailor and one Armed Guard die later of their injuries. Forty-six from both groups are injured. Francis Asbury drifts aground off Ostend, Belgium, where she is sunk by gunfire as a menace to navigation.

Mediterranean
Tank landing ship LST-141 is damaged when she runs aground at Bizerte, Tunisia.