SOLOMONS NAVAL BATTLE

Evening Star, Issue 24325, 14 October 1942, Page 3

SOLOMONS NAVAL BATTLE

THE AUGUST ENGAGEMENT FOUR ALLIED CRUISERS LOST (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 12. Allied losses in the Solomons naval battle in August were four cruisers. This was disclosed by the United States Navy Department. A communique says:— “ Certain phases, of the Solomons Islands campaign which ivcre not announced previously for military reasons can iioav bo reported. Reconnaissance in June and July revealed enemy activity of much significance in the Jap-anese-controlled Solomons. An airfield was in process of construction on Guadalcanal, and facilities at other nearby bases were being expanded rapidly. This expansion, together with increased activity in Eastern Nerv Guinea, clearly indicated that the enemy Avas attempting to establish and maintain control of the air and sea in the Solomons area. “The establishment of such control would put the'Japanese in a position to launch a seaborne invasion, of DarAvin and Australia, and Avon Id have seriously threatened our supply lines Avith Australia and Ncav Zealand, as Avell as the island bases in Ncav Guinea and the Fiji Islands. It Avas necessary, therefore, that these enemy designs should be blocked by our capturing and utilising his key positions in the South-eastern Solomons. This Avas accomplished on August 7, when United States forces surprised and captured Japanese positions on Guadalcanal and in the Tulagi area. VIGOROUS OPPOSITION. “ Vigorous opposition A\’as offered to the consolidation of our positions. Throughout August 7 and 8 enemy planes raided our shore positions, transports, and fleet units, but these did not prevent United States marines from seizing most of the key positions on Guadalcanal and Tulagi by the afternoon of August 8. Meamvhile, additional troops, supplies, and equipment were being unloaded from transports and supply ships, and it Avas imperative that these operations should be successfully completed. To this end screening groups of Allied cruisers and destroyers Avere placed on both sides of Savo Island. Additional screening forces were placed near the transports.

“ Early on tlio morning of August 9 enemy aircraft dropped flares over our transports and supply ships. Simultaneously a force of enemy cruisers and destroyers skirted the south coast of Savo Island at high speed and headed in the direction of the transports and supply ships, which were silhouetted in the illuminated areas. Rapidly the enemy sighted our covering unit located to the south-east of' Savo and opened fire with guns and torpedoes, seriously damaging and setting fire to the Australian cruiser Canberra. It later became necessary to abandon the Canberra, which, sank the following, morning. After a brief engagement with our south-eastern screen the Japanese altered course to proceed through the passage north-east of Savo Island, CLOSE-RANGE BATTLE. “ Here the Japanese force encountered our north-east screen of cruisers and destroyers, and a close-range battle resulted. The action was fought with guns and torpedoes, and with the targets illuminated by searchlights and star shells. The enemy fire was heavy and accurate, and the United States cruiser Vincennes was hit repeatedly and sank during the night. A third cruiser, the Astoria, which was badly damaged, burned during the night and sank the following morning. The cruiser Quincy was also lost. “ It has not been possible to determine the extent of the damage inflicted on the Japanese ships by our screening forces. The enemy withdrew to the north-west -without attempting to attack our transports and supply ships. “ Although the majority of the personnel was saved, there were still many casualties as the result of the sinking of the four Allied cruisers. The loss of these has now been offset by an appropriate reallocation of our ships, which was made possible by new ship construction.” JAPANESE LOSSES. The loss of the Astoria, the Quincy, and the Vincennes makes a total of nine American ships which have been announced ns sunk in the Solomons—three cruisers, two destroyers, and four transports, in addition to two dc.stroyers damaged. The .Japanese have lost .‘3B ships sunk or damaged. RETENTION OF SOLOMONS VITAL IMPORTANCE TO ALLIES {N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) SYDNEY, October 13. The vital importance of the battle of the Solomons to Australia and New Zealand is stressed in an editorial by the Sydney ‘ Daily Telegraph ’ to-day. The paper-says: “If the Japanese drove the American!? from Guadalcanal, the eastern coast of Australia, and the Allied supply route to this country and New Zealand would be open to a flanking attack. The meagre information available suggests that the enemy’s plan is to concentrate all his available South-west Pacific forces in the Solomons. Such a move could tilt the bnl-