ENEMY PURSUED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24271, 12 May 1942, Page 3

ENEMY PURSUED

CORAL SEA ENCOUNTER TWO SUBMARINES ATTACKED PROBABLY SUNK BY PLANES (Reed. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 11 I Following the battle of the Coral Sea, elements of the Japanese fleet ( are still being pursued and at- > tacked, states a communique issued t from General Mac Arthur's head--1 quarters. The news of the sinking ' or damaging of two Japanese submarines is the first indication that 1 these craft have been operating in ' Australian waters. They were at- | tacked by Allied patrol aircraft off j the north-east coast of Australia. | j Vichy radio, quoting American re- '; ports, says stronger Japanese forces are ' | now approaching the battlo area in the ' I Coral Sea. | The Japanese have been claiming the! j sinking of two American aircraft car- j Jriers, an American battleship and a j British cruiser. It is emphasised in | Washington that no credent should be ■ given to Japanese claims. . ] Unofficial figures based on Washingj ton communiques show that 259 Japanese ships of all types have been sunk or j damaged since the Pacific war began on December 7. The United States Navy Department communiques account for 178 ships, and Army forces have destroyed or damaged 81. The Navy list, including the Japanese Coral Sea losses, is as follows: —Warships sunk, 44; probably sunk, 13; damaged, 27. Merchantmen sunk, 61; probably sunk, 15; damaged, 18. NEW GUINEA ACTIVITY JAPANESE PLANES DOWN LONDON, May 11 In a raid on Port Moresby, in New Guinea, two enemy aeroplanes have been shot down, while Allied reconnaissance aeroplanes have attacked Japanese seaplanes in the Louisiade Archipelago. Long-range flying-boats and speciallybuilt aircraft of the fighter typo are being used by Allied pilots in the South-west Pacific areas for reconnaissance work. LEADERS CONFER RESULT OF SEA BATTLE CANBERRA, May 11 General Mac Arthur and the Australian Prime Minister, Mr. J. Curtin, have had a long conference at Allied headquarters. While this was in progress the Army Minister, Mr. F. M. Forde, was having a long talk with the Commander of the Allied Land Forces, General Sir Thomas Blarney. The subject of the latter conference was the general war outlook and the implications of the battle of the Coral Sea.