RELIEF IN PACIFIC

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20827, 4 July 1942, Page 3

RELIEF IN PACIFIC

AMERICANS FINE WORK INFLUENCE ON EGYPT (British Official Wireless.) (9 a.m.) RUGBY, July 2. “We have secured the strong protection of Australia, New Zealand, and India. This has been effected in the main by the brilliant victories gained by the United States navy and air forces over the Japanese in the Coral Sea and at Midway Island,” said the Prime Minister, Mr. Winston Churchill, in his speech in the House of Commons. “Superb acts were performed by the American airmen in their successful attack on the Japanese aircraft carriers, four of which they sank. In one attack only one aircraft returned out of 10. In others, the loss was more than half. “The balance of naval power in the Pacific has been definitely altered in our favour. This relief, at any rate for some months to come, in the Australian and Indian theatres has enabled important forces to be directed upon Egypt. The extraordinary valour and tenacity of the Russian defence of Sebastopol and Marshal Timoshenko’s massive counter-strokes at Kharkov have enabled us to concentrate upon the destruction of General Rommel’s army. “The battle in Egypt is now raging With full intensity and is an action of the highest consequence. We have one object, and only one—the destruction of the enemy’s army. Important aid is on - the way, both from Britain and the United States. A hard and deadly struggle lies before the Army of the Nile. It remains for us here to encourage and cheer them and to fortify their commander by every means in our power.”