BATTLE'S IMPORTANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24270, 11 May 1942, Page 5

BATTLE'S IMPORTANCE

GREATEST SINCE JUTLAND COMMENT IN BRITAIN LONDON, May 10 The Coral Sea Battle became overnight the dominating topic of conversation and the headline news in the newspapers. Hopes, fears, speculation —all have been with us, all changing hour by hour. A typical assessment of the importance of the struggle is that it is the greatest naval battle since Jutland and maybe even more far-reaching in its importance. The London Daily Telegraph, for instance, says: "The total Forces on either side are not yet known, but they appear to have produced the greatest naval action since the Grand Fleet met the German fleet at Jutland. In a competition anything like equal losses the United States holds an overwhelming advantage. With its present strength concentrated in action its navy is far superior to the Japanese and its powers of replacements and expansion are incomparable. "Even while the issue is still undecided, Japan has been taught that a move in the Pacific now will not give her another Battle of Java —the crushing of a small squadron in narrow waters by great numerical superiority —but an encounter on the high seas with a large, fully-equipped and vigilant force. The nature of the battle has damaged already Japanese sea and air strength and indicates how the command of the Pacific will eventually be won." The Daily Mail says: "For months the world has been asking, where is the American Fleet P Now the world knows where some part of its strength has been concentrated." The News Chronicle says: "This is clearly the greatest naval engagement since Jutland and may prove to be one of the decisive battles of the war and of the world."