The democracies last week stood in danger of a greater defeat than they had yet publicly recognized.
In the first week after war broke out in the Pacific they lost two battles, neither of which should have been lost: Pearl Harbor and the fight which cost them the Prince of Wales and Repulse.
In the second week they lost Guam. Its loss was expected, but it fell with grim speed.
Last week they lost Hong Kong and Wake. Brilliantly defended Wake was a Pyrrhic victory for the Japs, but none the less a loss to the democracies.
All these defeats were taken with anger,...