BLOWS AT JAPAN

Evening Star, Issue 24326, 15 October 1942, Page 5

BLOWS AT JAPAN

NAVY FURTHER DEPLETED AMERICAN SUCCESSES IN SOLOMONS Press Association —By Telegraph —Copyright WASHINGTON, October 13. Smashing blows against the Japanese fleet in the Solomons area were delivered by United States naval and air forces ‘yesterday. One enemy heavy cruiser was sunk, a second cruiser was badly damaged and put out of action, and four destroyers and one mediumsized transport were sunk in a naval battle which resulted when renewed Japanese efforts were made to land troops on Guadalcanal Island. The only United Sthtcs ship lost was a destroyer. This new triumph, which is regarded as perhaps the most heartening news received from the South-west Pacific since United States marines occupied the Southeastern Solomons, makes a total of 48 Japanese ships sunk or damaged, and at least 270 planes destroyed in the grtfup in two months. A Chungking report quotes a Chinese military spokesman as saying that the Japanese fleet at sea in the Pacific comprises four aircraft carriers, seven battleships, and a number of cruisers. The fleet was reported as having been “ observed moving south.” ' ALLIED INTERCEPTION ENEMY LANDINGS CHECKED WASHINGTON. October 13. The latest success of the American forces in the Solomons is announced in a special navy communique, which says: “ On various occasions in recent weeks the Japanese succeeded in increasing the number of their troops at Guadalcanal by night landings from cruisers, destroyers, and small transports. Navv and marine aircraft from Guadalcanal persistently attacked the landing parties, but air attacks did not halt the landings, and therefore a task group of United States cruisers and destroyers was ordered to intercept enemy ships attempting further landings. * “At midnight on October 12 tho task group engaged a force of enemy cruisers, destroyers, and transports west of Savo Island. After a battle lasting 30 minutes and fought with guns and torpedoes, the enemy was forced to abandon the landing attempt, and withdrew. Several United States ships received minor to moderate damage, and one destroyer was sunk. Our forces sank a heavy cruiser of the Nati or Atago class, four destroyers, and one 5,000-ton transport. “ On the morning of October 12 navy and marine torpedo planes and divebombers lift Guadalcanal to locate and attack the retreating enemy ships, overtaking two enemy cruisers south of New Georgia, A torpedo hit was obtained against one cruiser, and several bopibs exploded nearby. The cruiser was left dead in the water and burning. , “ On the afternoon of October 12 an air group from Guadalcanal attacked an enemy cruiser and destroyer in the area south of New Georgia. A direct bomb hit severely damaged" and stopped the cruiser. When last seen her crew were abandoning the ship, which is believed to, have been damaged in previous engagements. A direct hit and several near-misses set fire to the accompanying destroyer, which yvas left in a sinking condition. ‘ “ Reports to date indicate that as the result of night action and the air attacks on October 12 the enemy suffered the following minimum damage One heavy cruiser sunk, one cruiser badly damaged and put out of action, four destroyers sunk, one medium-size transport sunk. One destroyer was our only loss in these actions.” The battle was apparently the one referred to by the Paris radio and cabled from Sydney on October 13. THE AUGUST BATTLE AMERICAN SEAMAN'S DESCRIPTION SAN FRANCISCO, October 13. Describing the Solomons battle in August, in whidh three American cruisers were lost, First Class Seaman Lynn Hager, who "was on board- the Astoria, says ho heard the distant sound of aeroplanes, and sent a hurried message to the captain. Later, flares plunged down from the planes, and then out of the darkness came a blinding searchlight, and almost simultaneously a thunderous mass of steel and fire closed in on the doomed ship. The Astoria shuddered under the impact of shell after shell. The first salvo struck while some of the men were still running to their stations and knocked*" out one of the Astoria’s gun turrets. “When a Japanese searchlight picked us up we turned and started firing to port,” Hager said. “It seemed that ships were attacking us from both sides. Our commander cut loose at the searchlight, which, after a few minutes, went up in one big puff. He commented: ‘That’s one Jap who will never throw another shell.’ “Shells and torpedoes from other Japanese warships continued hitting us until wo werp set on fire. The Astoria burned all night and sank in the inorning.” Hager said an American destroyer machine-gunned sharks in order to save wounded men who were struggling in the water. Seaman Williamson, who was on board the Quincy when she sank, said: “ AVhile we were in the water a man close to me who had been badly shot about said quietly, ‘I can’t.last over 20 minutes. I’ve got 100 dollars in my pocket, if it will do you fellows any good.’ But nobody took it.” 52 TO 10 SHIPPING LOSSES IN SOLOMONS (Rec. 12.50 p.m.) WASHINGTON. October 14. A total of 52 Japanese ships have been sunk or damaged and at least 270 planes lost in tho battle for the Solomons, while tho American losses total 10 ships and an unrovealed number of aircraft, probably less than a quarter of the enemy’s plane losses. This summary of Japanese sinkings is based on United States Navy Department figures. MISSIONARIES MURDERED NEW YORK, October 14. News lias been received in London that Fathers Henry Engberink and Arthur Duhamel, and Sisters Sylvia and Odtaya, of the Marist Mission of Ruacatu, in Guadalcanal, have been murdered by Japanese soldiers. Their bodies were found at Tasirabok, Guadalcanal. They had all boon bayoneted in the throat. A third member of the mission, Sister Edmet, escaped,