BRITISH NAVAL LOSSES

Grey River Argus, 18 March 1942, Page 5

BRITISH NAVAL LOSSES

Effect of Java Battle

ALLIED DISPOSITION

PROBLEM.

LONDON, March 16. The Allied naval losses in the Java Sea battle are felt generally to be a heavy blow to the already-strained resources! in material and personne. of the United Nations. The Naval Correspondent of lb' “Da.lv Express” says: With the Java losses, the Royal navies, including Australian and Canadian, have now lost 15 cruisers and 67 destroyers which is three destroyers more than they lost in the whole of the last war. The Allies combined still have a far greater number of warships of all classes. The jomt naval com* mands' problem is to dispose them for world-wide duties without being caught at a severe local disadvantage, as in the Java battle. The Japanese cruisers, although t.hov achieved spectacular successes in the Pacific war, are beneved to have paid heavily with eight or nine sunk, and perhaps fifteen damaged The "Daily Telegraph” says: Whatever the exact balance may be, tire long fight was a grievous defeat. From the day we heard .of the sinking of the Prince of Wales and the Repulse, the position of the American and Dutch squadrons in the East Indies had been precarious. The Queen of the Netherlands, m her broadcast to the Dutch seamen, has shown us the spirit in which these losses must be taken, and made good bv the reconstruction of Allied naval power in the Pacific. “The Times” savs: Each of the United Nations has the loss of good ships and brave men to mourn. In this country, the loss of the Exeter, with her great record in tne River Plate battle, will be especially felt Memory will recall the great reception which the people of London were able to give to her company two years ago. on their return to their home port, .wounded but in good heart; but the Exeter’s men and their comrades have not died in vain They were not able to prevent the overrunning of the fair land of Java, but the toll they have taken of Japanese ships will count in the reckoning to come one day. They have given the enemy and the world an exemplary proof of the devotion and skill of the Allied navies, ano they leave with their own peoples the inspiration of their fighting spirit and of the sacriee it so freely accepted. . - " .