FACE SAVING BY JAPANESE

Southland Times, Issue 24765, 9 June 1942, Page 5

FACE SAVING BY JAPANESE

ATTACK ON MIDWAY ANTICIPATED

(Rec. 9 p.m.) WASHINGTON, June 7. Admiral E. J. King, Commander of the Combined U.S. Fleets, has issued the following statement in reference to the background of events leading up to the Midway battle: “After General Doolittle’s raid on Japan General Marshall and I both felt, knowing Japanese psychology, that some reprisal in kind was inevitable in order that they might ‘save face.’ The Secretary of War, Mr Stimson also emphasized this point. The Coral Sea action, which was another setback to the Japanese, was an additional reason to be on guard. “After the Coral Sea action we lost touch with the heavy Japanese forces engaged. They disappeared beyond the radius of our immediate means of reconnaissance, but we have considerable numbers of submarines sprinkled about the Western Pacific, which were able to give us a good deal of, at least, negative information. “It was apparent, after the Coral Sea action, that the Japanese would have to go somewhere and do something. Among our various important outposts, Dutch Harbour and Midway Island, offered them the best chance of invasion with some hope of success.

“At the same time we were fully aware that they might renew the action

in the Coral Sea, even though they had recently been stiing there. To this extent we prepared for an assault on Midway and recognized that Alaska might also be attacked. “You know generally the line of communications we have to protect to Australia, but you probably do not realize the large forces needed to protect a line of that length. All these factors had to be evaluated. The decision to act had to be taken on the basis of calculated risk. AIR SCOUTING RADIUS

“Midway has been greatly strengthened since the Pearl Harbour action. As the Japanese now know, the radius of our effective air scouting from that island extends to a distance of at least 500 miles. What they do not know, and what I do not propose to tell you, is the actual limit of that aerial reconnaissance radius. “Certainly, if we had known exactly when, where and in what force the enemy intended to strike we might have afforded some diversion from our other vital areas of protection, but as reports will prove, I believe we will have nothing to apologize for in the present action. “I cannot give details of our forces engaged, or ready to be engaged. The Japanese probably do not exactly know them, but they have cause to know plenty.” HEARTENING NEWS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 8. Expressing satisfaction with the successes achieved against the Japanese at Midway Island and off the coast of Australia, the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, said today that the news received in the past few days was both heartening and encouraging. It should act as a spur to all to further the war effort of the Dominion. Commenting that the shelling of Sydney and Newcastle was evidently on a small scale, he said the attacks were the sort of thing that could be expected throughout the Pacific area.