AMERICAN VIEW

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 March 1942, Page 3

AMERICAN VIEW

JAPANESE WILL USE GREAT FORCES ATTEMPT TO NEUTRALISE AUSTRALIA. AS POTENTIAL ALLIED BASE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright). NEW YORK, March 6. “Based on my long experience as a naval commander in the Pacific, I believe the Japanese will hurl great forces against Australia as soon as Java is under control,” says Admiral Stirling, writing for the United Press of America. “The Japanese timetable apparently calls for control of the Western Pacific by June 1, but this cannot be effected till Australia is taken, or at least neutralised as a potential American base from which Allied forces could attempt a northward offensive. “It would seem that the Japanese in spite of considerable losses in the Malayan and Netherlands East Indies campaigns, believe that they have strength enough to undertake the conquest of Australia and are determined to remove this last threat to the control of the Pacific as soon as possible.” JAPANESE NAVY AN ESTIMATE OF LOSSES. WASHINGTON, March 7. The .magazine “Sea Power” says that the United States Navy League, compiling a record of the Japanese naval losses, states that Japan has lost at least 40 major warships from her total fleet of 260. The magazine specifies the losses as follows: — Two out of a total of 10 battleships. Seven out of 46 cruisers. Thirteen out of 125 destroyers. Thirteen out of 17 submarines. ASSAULT FLOTILLA WIPED OUT AT PEARL HARBOUR. LONDON, March 6. Japanese Imperial headquarters revealed today that not one of the Japanese assault craft which attacked the United States Fleet in the Pearl Harbour raid three months ago, returned to its base after the operation. The attack is stated to have been carried out by a special assault flotilla.

HONOURED BY QUEEN

VALIANT DUTCH AIRMEN. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. March 7. Queen Wilhelmina has conferred upon the Air Arm of-the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army the Militaire Willemsorde (the Dutch V.C.) in appreciation of their great valour in exceptional deeds of bravery.