DEADLY BOMBING

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 285, 31 August 1942, Page 5

DEADLY BOMBING

Japanese Planes And Ships Hit

(Received August 30, 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, August 30. Further heavy destruction of Japanese aircraft is reported in a supplementary communique just released from General MacArthur’s headquarters. At Buna, in Papua, our medium bombers with- strong lighter escort, made a low-level attack on an enemy airfield. One Zero was demolished by a direct bomb hit, and four more Zeros and one bomber were destroyed on the ground by strafing. Other enemy planes were damaged by bomb blasts. Three large fires were started in the dispersal area. A United States Navy Department communique states: “Late on Thursday afternoon United States patrol aircraft based on Guadalcanal Island sighted one small and three large Japanese destroyers, apparently loaded with supplies and equipment for the isolated Japanese patrols 'believed to be operating near the eastern end of Santa Isabl Island, .north of Guadalcanal. After reporting contact, the patrol plaues attacked and secured a hit on the small destroyer. Then a striking force of Douglas divebombers arrived from Guadalcanal as a result of the patrol’s contact report. “They attacked three large destroyers, one of which was sunk as the result of a heavy explosion following bomb hits. A second large destroyer was severely damaged and probably sunk, and the striking force observed the small destroyer previously hit by the patrol planes to be crippled and burning. No further action Is reported in this area.”

CLAIM BY JAPANESE Smashing Victory In Both Phases Of Rattle NEW YORK, August 28. Over Tokio official radio, tho navy spokesman, Captain H. Hiraide, in a nation-wide broadcast, claimed a complete Japanese victory in both phases of the Solomons battle. He said the United Nations twice broke off naval and air action in the Solomons after suffering “disastrous defeats.” “If the Anglo-American navies try to engage us a third or fourth time it is a foregone conclusion that they will be beaten,” he said. “It would probably be too hasty a judgment to say that the United Nations will abandon fresh attempts, because 10,000 marines have been landed in the Solomons whose lives arc at stake.” “War Orphan of Pacific.” Captain Hiraide said the second. action had been fought by the United Nations for political reasons to hearten the flagging morale of Australia as the “war orphan of the Pacific.” Captain Hiraide said the second phase of the battle began on Monday when Japanese units located a United States formation composed of two battleships, one large and two medium carriers, several cruisers, and many destroyers heading toward Tulagi. Japanese planes immediately attacked, and the Allied ships escaped only under cover of darkness. “Strategically we won a complete victory as we thoroughly frustrated the enemy’s plans,” ho said. “The Japanese navy is stoutly determined to' crush any new enemy challenge against the Solomons or any part of the Pacific.”