Midway Victory May Be Greater Than Yet Reported

Northern Advocate, 11 June 1942, Page 3

Midway Victory May Be Greater Than Yet Reported

NEW YORK, June 10.

It is generally believed here that the magnitude of America’s victory off Midway Island is far greater than yet officially revealed, says the “Her-ald-Tribune’s” Washington correspondent.

He adds that some time during the week the full story will be told the nations, along with a long-delayed account of the Coral Sea battle.

The official account is expected to reveal, firstly, that while Japan’s numerical losses may not be much larger than Admiral Nimitz estimated—--13 to 15 warships sunk or damaged—the decisiveness with which the enemy was routed will surpass all previous suggestions. Secondly, American losses were so slight in comparison as to seem infinitesimal.

Thirdly, the Army, Navy and Marines share alike in the glory, with Midway’s land-based bombers playing a large part in the. Japanese defeat. Intangible evidence that good news is to be expected was furnished by the faces of the Secretary for the Navy (Colonel Knox) and Chief of the United States Navy (Admiral King) when they left Mr Roosevelt’s office after a two-hour conference. Eoth looked extremely happy. Smooth Co-operation

The War Department released a congratulatory message from the Chief of the United States Army Staff (General Marshall) to General Emmons. con.mander at Hawaii, in which

General Marshall commended the brilliant part played by Army bombers in the Midway battle and also expressed deep appreciation for the smooth efficiency with which General Emmons co-operated with Admiral Nimitz during the battle. It is reported from Chungking that the Japanese armada routed off Midway consisted of 54 to 56 war vessels, exclusive of transports, also 200 planes. The formation is reported to have included four battleships, four to six carriers, four heavy cruisers, five light cruisers, three seaplane tenders and 34 destroyers. Jap. Fleet Fears Air Attacks

The Chinese Communist newspaper, “Hsin Hua Jih Pao,” has published an article on the Japanese fleet, written by a Japanese naval prisoner of war, identified as Naoki, in which he said that the Japanese second fleet was routed by American planes in the battle of the Coi'al Sea.

He attributed the Japanese defeats in the Coral Sea and at Midway to the vulnerability of Japanese warships to aerial attack. The Japanese navy dreads aerial attacks because the Japanese have sacrificed heavy deck armour and ack-ack guns for heavier guns and greater speed. He declared that the battleship Hinga’s thinnest upper-deck armour resembles boiler plate in some sections. Japanese naval officers are accustomed to crowding crews and skimping food supplies. They are contemptuous of British and American warships, which they dub as “tourists’ boats.” The sacrifice of comfort and , efficiency has lowered the fighting qualities of Japanese warships. The crews are incapable of sustained alertness and prolonged fighting on a monotonous diet which lacks nutrition. Lack of rest has caused lapses of duty resulting in many serious accidents. Dutch Harbour Position No second statement by Admiral King has been received, but the Australian Broadcasting Commission broadcast the following:: “A message from New York states that the situation in the vicinity of Dutch Harbour remains obscure says Admiral King who spoke of a battle of manoeuvre which is still progressing, but he did not explain the nature of the manoeuvres. One reason for the absence of news is bad weather.” Power Of Air Arm The New York “Herald-Tribune” declares editorially that the Midway battle provides another impressive congrmation of the overwhelming power of the air arm in sea warfare, together with the relative uselessness of heavy battleships in a first line attack. The paper recalls the sinking of the Bismarck, Prince of Wales, and Repulse, and the neutralisation of the Tirpitz, in which the one-time backbone of the fleet collapsed under aerial attack.

“Clearly air supremacy has become an absolutely critical factor in sea warfare as well as in land warfare,” the paper says. “Therefore the terrific destruction wrought upon the Japanese carrier fleet is far more important than the damage the Japanese did to the United States battle-line at Pearl Harbour. It is possible that we now hold supremacy in carrier strength in the Pacific.” The “Herald-Tribune” concludes that it is unlikely that an advance will be made over the long peripheral road via Australia to the Netherlands East Indies, but rather upon the Japanese centre, striking direct at home factories and training fields, which are the sources of Japan’s air strength. “Best News We have Had” After a meeting of the Pacific War Council today, Lord Halifax, according to a Washington correspondent, said: “I am greatly encouraged by President Roosevelt’s account of the Midway Island battle.” The New Zealand Minister (Mr. Nash) iwas even more confident. He said: "The President’s report was full of good news' right through—as good as we have had. Perhaps the best we have had,”