Evening star., 1942-06-12
By CLAUDE A. MAHONEY.

The United States lost the aircraft carrier Lexington,
the naval tanker Neosho and the destroyer Sims in the
battle of the Coral Sea- which cost Japan total of more
than IS ships sunk, the Navy announced today.
Nney-two per cent of the Lexingtons complement
rescued and has reached port safely the communque
said large part of the of the Neoho and the Sims
also rescued No American ships damaged
Lexington, damaged in the battle, left the
under her and sunk by explosions believed to
have been caused by gasoline that from upured fuel
lines below decks The abandoned the ship and exploded
and sank afterward.
communque did not how Of the Lexngtons fighting
planes lost but officials commented that obviously planes
Navy Japanese three
heavy cruisers light cruiser two destroers several transports
additional Japanese carrier and
destroyer listed severely damaged and probably sunk
three destroyrs was reported japanese
aircraft in the engagement, the Navy said.
japanese Carriers Named.
The Navy said the enemy included the
that serious damage inflicted
the Shokaku, another carrier
Naval sources here expressed belief Ryukaku
SO that in not M sS in eS
said it apparently about 2OOoO-ton vessel
also ~
entire battle of the Coral Sea covered period of two
Navy Explained that delay in reporting on allow
to assemble for the protection Of Midway Island where last
The Lexington the largest aircraft carriers in the
originally battle cruiser and converted
carrier under provisions of the Washington Treaty for the
On May japanese Lexington while
planes of the ship succeeded in
the fires her aircraft Several hours later
terrific internal explosion rocked the carrier serious fires
parts the ship The blast caused by
closed below decks
The fought heroca the ship but the explosion
damaged much fighting equipment Destroyers pulled
alongside and received wounded from the carrier
Finally with all machinery disabled the ship stopped AS
nvoped nearly entire length became
further attempt to save her was futile and the captain
ordered the abandon ship
aircraft located bombed the 8OO0on tanker
accompanying destroyer May The Sims
during the attack and the Neosho sank several days later
result Of the damage.
Previous United States ships today
total of 80 vessels by and accidental
warps lost by direct action
| The of kin of all casualties have been notified
Previous Silence Helped Achieve Midway Victory.
Following Navy Department communiqu No SO
on the Coral Sea battle:
Midway makes possible to release in
regard the Battle Of the Coral Sea- Holding up
this information Navy security which was corner
stone in building for the Midway victory.
March the Japanese observed to be concen-
ang and combaant ships in the ports OF Saamaua
Guinea apparently in preparation
the south coast of the
The occupation of Port Moresby would have AFFORDED the
strategay located advance base from which promptly
make further attacks IN Northern Australia
the bases at Saamaua and Lac had been sub
United States and Australian
On March 10 number of aircraft from
under the command of Vice Admiral
Brown planes in their successful
attack shipping installations at the enemy bases
Department COmmunique No 81 OF March
than 20 japanese SHIPS and heavy
damage installations. The resulting disruption OF Jap
the southwark The attacking force was de-
American and Australian island
the participation OF our carriers in that action
still been discovered by the enemy.
reconnaissance planes reported that
concentrating transports and the
! A6