HITS ON SEVEN MORE SHIPS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 33, 3 November 1942, Page 5

HITS ON SEVEN MORE SHIPS

North Solomons BOMB ONSLAUGHT MAINTAINED

(By Telegraph.—-Press Assn,’—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received November-2, 10.50 p.m.) SYDNEY, November 2.

Australia-based planes are believed to have sunk or seriously damaged seven more Japanese ships in the third successive night raid on Buin-Faisi area in the northern Solomons.

Two waves of heavy and medium bombers dropped 33 tons of bombs, which is the heaviest load reported since the beginning of these intensive attacks on the Solomons by aircraft of General MacArthur's command. The attacks were pressed home from a low altitude through a formidable curtain of anti-aircraft fire. In three nights our bombers have thus sunk or damaged 17 enemy vessels in. this area. Since tho beginning of October the bombers of the Southwest Pacific command have sunk or damaged 55 Japanese ships, estimated to aggregate over 150,006 tons, Accurate observation of the results of the latest attack was not possible, but the headquarters spokesman siud today that the vessels which were bombed included warships and merchantmen. , One plane failed to return from the operation, and this is the sole Allied loss in the three nights of sustained attack. It is now revealed that two Japanese battleships, or heavy cruisers, received direct hits with 5001 b. bombs in Friday’s raid on enemy shipping in the Buin-Faisi area, The earlier reports suggested that the same ship might have been hit on botli occasions.

U.S. WARSHIPS IN ACTION Off Guadalcanal WASHINGTON, November 1. A. Navy Department counnuniuue savs: “In the South Pacific on October 29 United States aircraft continued their attacks on enemy positions on Guadalcanal. During minor ground operations two enemy 75-milltme[re guns were captured on the Matanikan River. ■ * “Date in the evening a Douglas Dauntless dive-bomber attacked two enemy destroyers near Tasayaronga (on the north const of Guadalcanal). No lilts were scored, but the destroyers were driven westward toward Russell Island.

"On October 30, early in the morning, dive-bombers attacked enemy destroyers in tlie vicinity of Russell Island. The results have not been reported, and one dive-bomber has not returned “During the morning, seven Grumman Wildcats attacked the enemy at Rekcta Bay. Throe Zero float-planes and two biplanes were shot down, and buildings and a fuel dump strafed and set on fire, ’

"Surface ships bombarded enemy positions on Guadalcanal. Some artillery and several buildings and boats were destroyed.” Breathing Space.

The New York “Herald Tribune,” editorially commenting, <>u the Solomons, says: "The first round, which ended last Monday, seems to have been a tactical draw, but the strategic advantage appears to lie witli the Americans, whose flyers from ships, from the island, and front Australia incessantly pounded the Japanese bases and fleets. The Japanese ships returned to their bases, where they nave met with a warm welcome from General MacArthur’s men. "But we have gained ji;st a breathing Spell. The danger' is not yet dissipated, and the situation of our small force on Guadalcanal still is precarious. Ibis respite may niter the impression that the Solomons campaign was entered upon in file light-hearted ignorant spirit of the Sorcerer’s Apprentice. On tlie contrary, tlie campaign wiih n fundamentally courageous effort to attain a worth-while ou--3 “The campaign will entail further losses, and perhaps errors, but the Japanese are not. infallible . and the Americans will do the job if they receive leadership worthy of the innigimition which conceived the original plan.