Evening star., 1942-06-05
Battle for Midway Island Rages;
American Forces Press Attacks;
Jap BattIeship> Carrier Damaged
Many Planes Shot
Down by Defense,
Nimitz Reports
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
HONOLULU, June 5.-Ameri-
can defenders, spurred by initial
successes, closed battle today
with a strong japanese Sea-air
task force in what may be fin
iSh fight for possession of Mid
way Island.
Already the island garrison had
scored hits on an enemy battleship
an aircraft carrier and possibly
other war vessels. Raiding planes
were brought down in great num-
ber.
Admiral Chester w. Nimitz, COM
mander in chief of the Pacific Fleet,
said in a communique, Our attacks
on the enemy are continuing"
Naval experts in Washing
ton, commenting on the COM
munique, emphasized the fact
that American attacks are con-
tinuing)
This latest assault on the tiny is
land outpost, last line of defense be-
fore Hawaii itself, began shortly
after dawn yesterday.
It found the American forces
keyed to fighting pitch by long
preparation and patiently strength
ened in the months since they first
repulsed such an attack Decem-
Der 7.
Defenses FOrewarned.
1t found them alert and fore
warned by the preceding days raid
on Dutch Harbor, 1000 miles to the
north. It seemed the enemy may
have stepped unwittingly into a
spot too hot to handle.
But it also appeared strongly pos
sible the japanese did not intend
this as hit-and-run affair, like
their five preceding forays against
Midway.
Presence of capital ships in the
attacking force and the heavy toll
the defenders were able to exact
in the first few hours OF the opera
ton suggested the enemy was at
hand with the sole purpose Of taking
over the island, completely and
finally.
And Midway. with the tradition
of Wake Island as its guide, was
obviously in no mind to let the issue
60 by default.
Little Cost to Americans.
Admiral Ninitz' communique in
dicated the Americans first success
was achieved at little cost to them
selves. He reported that damage
to materiel and installations on the
island, 1,149 miles northwest OF
Hawaii, was minor.
mo reports of personnel casualties
were received" the communique
added.
Nor did Admiral Nimitz clarity
which units of the United States
defenders delivered the telling blows
against the Jap battleship and
carrier.
The attack was repulSed by local
defenders in which all armed serv-
ices are represented" he said, in
dicating that marine, sea and Air
forces were in action.
Text of Communique.
The admiral's communique tolo
this terse story:
"At 6:35 am. today (Thursday)
Midway time, that island was heavi.
ly raided by Japanese carrier-b based
planes. The attack was repulsec
by local defenders in which al
armed services are represented. A
heavy toll of attacking planes was
taken. Damage to materiel and
installations on Midway were re-
ported minor No reports of per-
sonnel casualties we're received.
The japanese carriers were ac-
companied by battleships anc
cruisers. One battleship and one
carrier definitely were damaged and
other vessels are believed to have
been hit. Our attacks on the enemy
are continuing"
(First news of the attack on
Midway was contained in a COM
munioue issued late yesterday by
the Navy Department. 1t gave
no details, however,
First Raid Since Nimitz Visit.
Broadening the fast developing
Pacific war, the Midway raid fol-
lowed by a day two raids of Japa-
nese planes on Dutch Harbor
Alaska.
The Midway attack was the first
(See MIDWAY, Page A-3)