In 1942, Americans (36)______ several important victories over the Japanese. The United States navy (37)______ a powerful Japane

In 1942, Americans won several important victories over the Japanese. The United States navy defeated a powerful Japanese fleet near Midway Island. The United States was greatly helped in the Battle of Midway because it had learned the secret code in which the Japanese sent messages. The United States knew where the Japanese ships would be.
    Many hard battles were fought on land and on the ocean. The United States leaders in the Pacific, General Douglas MacArthur of the army and Admiral Chester Nimitz of the navy, made a plan to defeat the Japanese. This plan was called "island hopping."
    The plan meant that the United States would capture certain islands in the Pacific on which Japan had placed soldiers. Other Japanese-held islands would be passed by and cut off from receiving food and supplies from Japan. At the same time, ships of the United States navy would fight Japanese warships wherever they found them.
    Each attack on an island held by the Japanese resulted in a difficult battle. But the American forces moved steadily closer to Japan. Finally, islands were captured that were near enough to Japan so that American planes could bomb the factories that made war equipment.