Evening star., 1942-06-06
At Least 8 Jap Ships Damaged
In Midway Invasion Attempt;
New Attack Pressed by u. S.
Control of Area
Remains Firm,
Nimitz Says
D. the Associated Press.

1ONohOLO, y uIlc O.-OdIlcI Gu
by alert American defenders who
Seized the offensive, a powerful
Japanese invasion fleet limped
away today from an attempt to
invade Midway Island, with at
least eight warships and trans
ports damaged by United States
bombers and submarines.
In announcing that American
forces were pursuing the retreating
invaders, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz
commander in chief of the Pacific
Fleet, did not reveal the exact toll
taken on the Japanese force and
made no claim to sinking any of the
enemy craft.
But damage to the invasion feet
was very heavy indeed" he said, in
cluding several ships in each of the
carrier, battleship, cruiser and trans
port classes"
This is minimum of eight craft
damaged by bombs and torpedoes in
what the admiral limited may de-
velop into one of the greatest Allied
naval victories of the war.
Aviation Bears Brunt.
Acknowledged American losses
were confined to planes and aviation
personnel, alert and fully prepared,
who carried the brunt of the attack
Their apparent rout of the first
major attempt to invade the stra-
tegic mid-Pacific island, which has
weathered five previous assaults,
wrote another shining page" in
their brilliant defense of Americas
island outposts.
While it is too early to claim
q major Japanese disaster, it may
be conservatively stated that United
States control remains firm in the
Midway area" Admiral Nimitz an
nounced last night.
The enemy appears to be with
drawing, but we are continuing the
battle"
3 Torpedoes Hit Carrier.
Although no actual sinkings were
listed in the cryptic accounts of the
battle which the japanese opened
with carrier based planes Thursday
after delivering a possible feinting
attack on Dutch Harbor, Alaska,
with bombers Wednesday, Admiral
Nimitz said a Japanese aircraft
carrier hit by Midway's aerial de-
tenders in the first stages of the
fighting later was struck by three
torpedoes fired by a submarine.
in, ~
said, -'it appears that the enemy
damage is very heavy, indeed, in
volving several ships in each of the
carrier, battleship, cruiser and
transport classes"
1t was the first mention made of
transports, lending support to the
belief that the huge Japanese force,
risking much in an assault so far
removed from its home bases, had as
its goal the actual conquest of
Midway, LAG miles northwest of
Hawaii.
In the desperation of impending
defeat. the japanese were reported
by Admiral Nimitz to have machine
gunned United States flyers forced
to bail out in parachutes during
dogfghts. Americans adrift in rub
Der boats were believed to have
suffered similar treatment.
Size Of Force Is Secret.
The size and nature of the United
States forces was wrapped largely
in military secrecy beyond the ad-
miral's statement that "the brunt
of the defense to date has fallen
upon aviation personnel, in which
the Army, Navy and Marine Corps
all were represented"
But If Japan hoped to catch by
surprise the Midway defenders, who
have beaten off five weaker assaults,
dating back to December 7, the sur
prise worked in reverse. Swiftly the
preparations for just such a major
blow. carrying with it threat to
Hawaii and even the United States
mainland, have gone forward in the
few months since the war opened.
But they have been so exhaustive
that Admiral Nimitz, on returning a
month ago from a visit to Midway,
was able to voice praise for the ef-
fective coordination he had wit
messed there.
He said the Midway flyers in the
present battle have added another
shining page to their record of
achievements" and ION every oc-
casion when we have met the enemy
our officers and men have been SUI
perlative in their offensive spirit"
Text of Communique.
The communique, second on the
battle issued by Admiral Nimitz,
read:
THE japanese have not followed
up their initial air attack on Mid
way Island except for a few inef-
fectual shots from submarine dur
ing last night.
LAS more reports come in, it ap-
pears that the enemy damage is
very heavy, indeed, involving several
ships in each of the carrier, battle
ship, cruiser, and transport classes.
This damage is far out of propor-
ton to that which we have received.
"a THE brunt of the defense to date
has fallen upon aviation personnel,
IN which the Army, Navy and Ma
rine Corps all were represented.
They have added another shining
page to their record of achievements.
"One carrier, already damaged by
air attack, was hit by three tor
pedoes fired by submarine.
"On every occasion when we have
met the enemy, our officers and men
have been superlative in their often
sive spirit.
There were reported several in
stances of enemy planes machine
cunning our aviation personnel