BEATEN TO THE DRAW !

Grey River Argus, 15 June 1942, Page 5

BEATEN TO THE DRAW !

JAPS AT MIDWAY Loss of Four Carriers U.S. BOMBER COMMANDER’S ACCOUNT. HONOLULU, June 12. Commander Arnold, leader of a bombing group, describing the Midway battle, revealed that four Japanese aircraft-carriers probably were destroyed, including two of the largest type, one each of the Kagi and the Akagi classes. He said one me-dium-sized carrier was sunk within twenty-four hours of the first attack on Midway. Another medium-sized carrier certainly never got back to Japan. Commander Arnold said that two Japanese forces were involved in the Midwa v .operations. The Japanese struck the first with a contingent of four aircraft carriers, three battleships. and numerous cruisers and destroyer. The second enemy force comprised about eleven large vessels of the cargo and transport class. They were orotected by numerous cruisers, and destroyers, and possibly by battleships. Commander Arnold did not reveal the exact number of Japanese ships that were involved, but he indicated that it was likely that they totalled from sixty to seventy. He said that at least 250 Japanese aeroplanes, as well as other enemy shins, were destroyed within 125 miles of Midway Island. Commander Arnold explained that the sole objective of the American carrier planes was to destroy Japanese aircraft carriers. United States pilots, he said, despite a verv heavy “ack ack” had pushed their attack home. Commander Arnold did not disclose the American losses. He did not state the numbei- of United States nlanes that were used in the battle. He said, however, that they were enough to do the job. Commenting on the Japanese objective he said that the enemy’s primary goal was to shell Midway Island, after an air attack, but they did not get the chance to do so. After aircraft carriers were destroyed, tne enemv battleships were just a good target. The Japanese launched air attack on Midway on June 4. This was while the enemy’s naval force was two hundred miles distant. How ever,. United States bomber pilots beat the /Japanese to the draw. The., attacked the enmey ships while th attack on Midway was proceeding. Shortly after U.S. Marines and Arm> bombers and carrier planes attacked the Japanese. They did so within ten minutes. Three enemy aircraft cairiers were seen blazing from stem to stern ’ LONDON, June 12. Within the first twenty-four hours of the battle off Midway Island, aircraft of a United States Carriei Bomber Squadron had been mental in the sinking cf a 26,900-ton and a 26,000-ton Japanese warship. It is also reported that at least 25U Japanese aeroplanes were destroyed in the attack on Midway. The 8.8. C. air correspondent (Major Oliver Stewart), speaking of the J’apanese losses in Midway, said, that the actions off the island and in i the Coral Sea showed the true ligh.. of air power versus sea power, xt had always been held that air powet on a wide scale could dominate sea power. The action provided t,ns basis for reassessing the relative values of the Navy and the Air Force. The United States War Department announced to-night that Major-General Tinker, Commander of the Hawaiian Army Air Force, is missing after the naval battle off Midway Island. He led a flight of Army bombers to attack the Japanese Fleet. His aeroplane was last 1 seen descending rapidly towards the sea.

U.S. PACIFIC REINFORCEMENTS.

LONDON, June 14. Mr Clark Lee, the correspondent at Honolulu .of the American Associated Press Agency, declaims: The American victorv at Midway removes the threat of the invasion of the American mainland, at least for a ‘predictable future, thus making possible immediate American reinforcements for Western Pacific bases and all Pacific keypoints. GALLANT U.S. AIR LEADER. HONOLULU, June 12. General Emmons in a statement, said: “The entire Hawaiian Department mourns the< loss of Major Genera’ 1 Tinker and his gallant crew. Because Major General Tinker would not ask subordinates to undertake risks that he would not take. he selected himself as Flight Leader for an important combat mission. He died, knowing that he had had an important part in a great air victory. Ten men of a crew were lost with Tinker.