“MADE IN JAPAN”

Evening Star, Issue 24286, 29 August 1942, Page 4

“MADE IN JAPAN”

GOOL CLAIM TO COMPLETE VICTORY

(Bee. 12.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 28

Tho Tokio official radio says that the Navy Spokesman, Captain Hiraide, in a broadcast to the nation, claimed complete Japanese victory in both phases of the Solomons battle. Ho said the United Nations had twice broken off naval and air action in the Solomons, after suffering disastrous defeats. “If the British-Americau Navies try to engage us a third or fourth time’ it is a foregone conclusion that they will be beaten It would probably be too hasty a judgment to say that the United Nations will abandon a fresh attempt, because 10,000 marines have been landed in tho Solomons whose lives are at stake.”

The Spokesman 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 tho Pacific. The second phase of the battle began on Monday, when Japanese units located a United States formation composed of two battleships, one largo and two medium carriers, several cruisers, and many destroyers, heading towards Tulagi. Japanese planes immediately attacked, and the Allied ships escaped only under cover of darkness. “ Strategically we won a complete victory, as wo thoroughly frustrated tho enemy’s plans. The Japanese na.yy is stoutly determined to crush any now enemy challenge against the Solomons or any part of the Pacific.”