TEST OF NAVAL POWER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 51, 11 May 1942, Page 4

TEST OF NAVAL POWER

THE greatest naval battle: ever waged in Pacific waters took place over the weekend and from what we gather by radioed messages is still taking place in isolated corners of the south eastern waters. The conflict which broke out when British,, American and Australian naval units sighted what has been described as the greatest enemy convoy seen in the South Pacific, raged over five days and nights and preliminary reports indicate that the Japanese losses were overwhelming when compared with those of the Allies. By Saturday it was known that nine enemy ships had been sent to the bottom including an aircraft carrier, cruisers and destroyers. Four other ships were damaged and as later reports came to hand it was shown that the Japanese losses could be termed as nothing else but a disastrous major defeat. The breaking up of the convoy and the persuit of its individual units by the Allied ships has led to isolated actions among the Melanesian Islands and it will take some time before a comprehensive and dependable report can be given from official sources. The upshot however can be summed up in the conclusion that a vast Japanese invasion fleet, protected by a powerful naval screen comprising battleships, aircraft carriers and destroyers was intercepted while making its way southwards. The question naturally in every New Zealanders mind is—what was its destination? Perhaps later reports on the action will reveal, but the fact remains that American, commentators have already broadcast the message that peoples of Australia and New Zealand should thank God for the timely arrival of the combined American fleets. The inference is obvious, and it would, appear that once again,, this country has escaped at the eleventh hour the horrors of a definite invasion. Far be it from us however to lapse back in spineless relief and forget the fact that the war with Japan still threatens our shores. Said Mr Curtin, the Australian Prime Minister last Saturday: "The Anzac war theatre is about to become the scene of a major sea and land action coincident with the European drive by the Nazis this spring. The coming summer must see terrible world wide events and Australia, cannot escape the blow." Such uttrances as these serve to indicate the grimness of the position in the Pacific which in spite of the magnificent victory off the Solomons must be expected to take its ruthless course. The next threes weeks in Mr Curtin's estimation will spell the course ot history in the South Pacific and within that limited time we can expect to see world shaking events take place. The Nipponese War Cabinet is as ruthless with its armies as with its conquered victims and in view of its desperate position and the tremendous odds it is staking its actions upon we can expect to see Japanese war efforts strained to the utmost in order to attain objectives and to hold the vast areas now already in its hands.