Evening star., 1942-06-08
Contact Was Lost
During Night,
Nimitz Says
r. the Associated Press.


force, reported to constitute the
bulk of that country's sea power,
limped westward today in des-
perate retreat from Midway Is
land, it's proud units pounded by
an American defense turned into
a Shattering offense.
The enemy appears to be with
drawing" said Admiral Chester w
Nimitz, commander in chief of the
Pacific Fleet. Contact was lost
during last night"
Even should the japanese make
good their escape, it will be only at
the cost of at least three warships
sunk. II or more others damaged
and the virtually complete destruc-
ton OF their protecting air arm.
L. S. Destroyer Sunk.
Against this formidable score. the
only announced American losses in
equipment were one destroyer sunk
by submarine, one aircraft carrier
hit by a bomb and some planes
missing.
Loss of the United States de-
stroyer was acknowledged in the
same communiQue in which Admiral
Nimitz told of the enemy's apparent
withdrawal. But it was offset by
official word that a Jap destroyer
also had been sent to the bottom
and that additional damage had
been inflicted on two enemy cruisers.
The crew of the lost United States
destroyer. Admiral Nimitz said, was
picked up by other ships with small
loss Of life" The admiral was un-
certain whether the report of fresh
damage to japanese cruisers re-
ferred to further hits on vessels
previously damaged or represented
entirely new successes.
Nimitz Congratulated.
AS the three day battle of the
Central Pacific seemed to be near
ing its finish in what was likely
the greatest single victory of Amer
ican naval history, messages of con-
graduation began to arrive at Ad-
miral Nimitz' headquarters here.
The splendid victory at Midway
has aroused the greatest enthusi-
asm throughout this area" Gen.
Douglas Macarthur advised the ad-
miral from Australia. THE Prime
Minister of Australia has asked me
to join his fluctuations. MY own
pride and satisfaction are bound
less. We will not fail"
From 1t. Gen. j. L. Dewitt, COM
manding general of the Western
Defense Command and 4th Army at
San Francisco, came this message: :
ITO the commander in chief of the
Pacific Fleet and all his officers and
men this command extends hearty
congratulations on the success Of
your forces and desires to express
Its admiration for the gallant &C
ton by all arms in the decisive re-
pulse of the enemy attack on Mid
way. May the final outcome be
enemy annihiliation.'
Hawaiian Area Quiet.
Admiral Nimitz' communicate an
nouncing the japanese retreat aug
illClltCu lIlICC plCFiOuo lCpOl 70 oCI-
ing a story of mounting disaster for
the enemy. 1t came on day
which, the admiral said, found the
Hawaiian area quiet except for
minor submarine activity" in sharp
contrast to the date six months be-
fore when Japan started war in
the Pacific with its attack on
Pearl Harbor
Admiral Nimitz in earlier COM
muniques reported the sinking of
two and perhaps three Japanese
aircraft carriers and the destruction
or damage of at least 13 other en-
emy warships.
He said that all the planes on the
two definitely sunk carriers were
lost and that one or two other enemy
carriers were damaged with the loss
of most of their planes.
Other enemy warships listed as
casualties were three battleships
damaged, one heavily; four cruisers
damaged, two heavily; three trans
ports damaged and the destroyer re-
ported sunk in last nights COM
munique. Admiral Nimitz said some
of the enemy warships damaged
were so thoroughly battered they
may not be able to reach their bases.
Text of Communique.
The text of last nights communi-
que:
The enemy appears to be with
drawing. Contact was lost during
last night. Additional damage was
inflicted on two enemy cruisers.
Until all reports can be checked 1t
is impossible to state whether these
cruisers are in addition to those
reported in communique No. 3 or
whether they were damaged cruis-
ers included in previous reports.
"One enemy destroyer was sunk.
One United States destroyer was
sunk by a submarine, but nearby
ships rescued the personnel with
small loss of life.
Except for minor submarine ac-
tivity in the vicinity of the Hawai-
ian island chain, this section of the
Pacific is quiet"
Hawaiian Population Jubilant.
The civilian population of Hawaii
as well as Army and Navy officers
and men were jubilant over the
news of the American success.
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, COM
mander in chief of the Japanese
Navy, it was recalled, was the one
who boastfully before Pearl Harbor
wrote a friend:
Il am looking forward to debating
peace to the United States in the
White House at Washington"
He also had boasted he would lead
his fleet into San Francisco and
London.
If Yamamoto lost face in the
Coral Sea battle, his initial Ha-
waiian date to regain it proved dis
astrous as his warships-those not
left behind on the bottom of the
(See MIDWAY, Page A-40