MAY HAVE SAVED NEW ZEALAND

Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22297, 13 June 1942, Page 5

MAY HAVE SAVED NEW ZEALAND

Japanese Defeat At Midway Comment By Lord Strabolgi By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrtgh' (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 11. "Japan’s defeat in the Midway battle may have saved Australia and New Zealand,” says Lord Strabolgi (formerly Lieutenant-Commander J. M. Kenworthy) writing in the “Evening Standard.” If the Japanese had won at Midway they would have made a successful assault against the Hawaiian islands and the lines of communication between the west coast of North America and Australia and New Zealand could have been severed. Tire Japanese High Command would then have been able to proceed at leisure with the invasion of Australia and New Zealand. “A line of communication has been established from the western ports of America and the Panama Canal by

way of Hawaii, Samoa and Fiji to Australia and New Zealand. To have any hope of quick success in invading Australia and New Zealand—and it must be a quick success —the Japanese must at all costs cut this line of communication. They could do It by seizing Hawaii, but first they must have Midway. If they do not invade Australia it will at present be the base for a vast Allied counter-attack against the Japanese positions in the . Western Pacific.”