TEN TIMES GREATER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24946, 19 June 1942, Page 5

TEN TIMES GREATER

JAPANESE LOSSES RECENT PACIFIC BATTLES (Rec. 10 p.m.) HONOLULU. June 17. Admiral Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief in the Pacific, in a speech oa board a warship on the occasion of the awarding of medals to heroes of the Pacific battles, particularly congratulated the crews of aircraft carriers and air groups. "Air-power has taken a leading role in the fleet engagements," he said. " and will increasingly do so in the future." He promised that new carrier groups which were being speedily organised would soon give naval men who were now on duty in the Pacific a well-deserved rest. Summing uo the Pacific naval battles, Admiral Nimitz said: "In every meeting since December 7 the Japanese losses have greatly exceeded ours. In the Coral Sea and Midway Island actions the Japanese losses of personnel were at least 10 times greater than ours, and Japanese plane losses were in about the same ratio." PACIFIC OUTLOOK BETTER SITUATION ENCOURAGING WASHINGTON. June 17. A note of restrained optimism was sounded by the New Zealand Minister, Mr W. Nash, at a press conference following a meeting of the Pacific War Council. He said the Council had paid particular attention to the 'South-west Pacific, where the general situation was encouraging. Moreover, the shipping situation, in spite of all difficulties, looked better. There was a possibility of really good shipping news. There was no reason to throw their hats in the air. On the other hand, there was no reason for pessimism. Mr Nash expressed the opinion that the Japanese were going to have a rough time. Lord Halifax said President Roosevelt fully reported the happenings in the Aleutians. Asked by reporters if the situation there was good or bad, Lord Halifax declined to answer directly, saying that the general effect of what the United States forces had done to the Japanese naval forces was most encouraging. The Philippines joined the Pacific War Council to-day, when President Roosevelt inducted President Quezon.