IN THE PACIFIC NAVAL BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 May 1942, Page 3

IN THE PACIFIC NAVAL BATTLE

Allied! Losses Relatively Slight DENIAL OF FANTASTIC ENEMY CLAIMS BUT RESUMPTION OF STRUGGLE IN PROSPECT SYDNEY, May 10. . The communique issued from General MacArthur’s head- - quarters this afternoon stated: “The great naval and air battle off the north-east coast of Australia has temporarily ceased. This action represents a continued effort by the Japanese to extend their aggressive conquests toward the south and southeast. “The enemy’s first efforts were aimed at expanding his air bases, but our air force consistently and effectively attacked his fields during the past six weeks, dislocating his plans by the destruction of installations and aircraft. “Our reconnaissance revealed a gradual building up of naval and transport elements for a co-i Ordinated attack of combined forces, which was initiated several days ago. Our naval forces then attacked in interception. They were handled with marked skill and fought with admirable courage and tenacity, and the enemy has been repulsed. ’ ’ A spokesman at the headquarters said that though the communique indicated that the Japanese had suffered a great setback in the Pacific battle, it was too early to say whether it was a conclusive action. Another communique from the south-west Pacific headquarters describes the Japanese claims of Allied warships sunk in the Coral Sea as fantastic. It says: “The enemy’s version of the battle is entirely fictional and has no semblance of a true communique of fact. It must be regarded in the. light of propaganda rather than of military report. His claims of damage inflicted on our naval forces are fantastic. , 1 “Our losses compared with his are relatively slight. The only reason they are not yet published is because they would reveal valuable information to the enemy.”