STRUCK BY AMERICAN AIR AND NAVAL FORCES
Ini Battle of Midway Island AT LEAST THIRTEEN JAPANESE VESSELS SUNK OR DAMAGED INCLUDING AIRCRAFT-CARRIERS AND BATTLESHIPS LONDON, June 7. At least 13 and possibly 15 Japanese warships and transports have been sunk or damaged in the Midway Island naval and air battle. Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander-imChief of the United States Pacific Fleet, stated in Pearl Harbour that a “momentous victory is in the making” in the Battle of Midway Island. The battle is continuing and is in its third day. This announcement has been received with jubilation by officials of the United States Navy Department and elsewhere in Washington. ; The assault on Midway Island has been regarded as Japan s first major move toward an attempted occupation of the Hawaiian Islands. Enemy troop convoys and the battle fleet have suffered greater damage and casualties than the Japanese inflicted in the Pearl Harbour attack six months ago today. It was announced yesterday that at least two and possibly three Japanese aircraft-carriers had been sunk and a total of possibly 14 other Japanese warships and transports damaged. The only American casualty reported was an aircraft-carrier damaged. ' Thus the Japanese have already suffered a serious naval reverse, if not a major disaster. Little damage on Midway Island and no landing there have been reported. Admiral Nimitz issued the following communique: “The Japanese losses in the great Midway Island battle are:— “AT LEAST TWO, AND POSSIBLY THREE, AIRCRAFT-CAR-RIERS DESTROYED WITH ALL PLANES, AND ONE OR TWO ADDITIONAL CARRIERS .DAMAGED AND MOST OF THEIR PLANES LOST; THREE BATTLESHIPS DAMAGED, AT LEAST ONE SERIOUSLY; AND FOUR CRUISERS AND THREE TRANSPORTS DAMAGED, TWO OF THE CRUISERS BEING BADLY CRIPPLED. POSSIBLY SOME OF THE DAMAGED SHIPS WILL BE UNABLE TO REACH HOME. “The battle is still continuing. One American carrier was hit, and some planes were lost. The American casualties were light.” The communique adds: “Through the skill and devotion to duty of the armed forces, all branches, in the Midway area, our citizens can now rejoice that a momentous victory is in the making. “PEARL HARBOUR HAS NOW BEEN PARTIALLY AVENGED. J" THE VENGEANCE WILL NOT BE COMPLETE TILL THE JAPANESE SEA POWER HAS BEEN REDUCED TO IMPOTENCE. WE HAVE MADE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS IN THIS DIRECTION, l AND CAN, PERHAPS, CLAIM TO BE ABOUT ‘MIDWAY’ TO OUR OBJECTIVE.”
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 June 1942, Page 3
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389STRUCK BY AMERICAN AIR AND NAVAL FORCES Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 June 1942, Page 3
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