Nine Years Since the Battle

Battle of Coral Sea

AUSTRALIA again celebrated Coraf Sea Week at the beginning of May This is now a yearly event set asidi to commemorate the air-sea battle whicl took place in the first days of May, 1942 when American and Australian Naval am Air Forces combined to turn back thj Japs from Australian shores. The battle regarded as one of the world’s most de: cisive Naval engagements, began on Ma; 3, 1942, when a strong Jap task fore: steamed into the Coral Sea with the ini tention of wiping out the isolated garrii son at Port Moresby, as a preliminary t: landing on the Queensland coast. O: May 4 battle was joined and for five day the conflict was waged. Allied losses i; ships, planes and men were heavy bu the battle stopped Japan’s southwar drive, preserved the Allies’ bases t Australia and Port Moresby and short! afterwards the initiative passed to th Allies. It was the first major battle be tween aircraft-carriers.

It has become the custom for Austral lia to invite a distinguished America to the Commonwealth to be an honours guest at the commemoration of the battl each year; the US guest for 1951 Cors Sea Week is Admiral Thomas Kinkaio now retired, but who in 1941 commande US Cruiser Division 6, and was third ii command at the Coral Sea Battle.

Admiral Kinkaid does not think the we are in imminent danger of a Thin World War. He thinks that Russia ha left it too late, and that the United State has already reached the stage of defenc preparedness where the Soviet and he allies will think twice before startir anything that will embroil her in a majo conflict.