ENEMY NAVAL BID

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20875, 29 August 1942, Page 3

ENEMY NAVAL BID

BREAK U.S. RING ONE FLEET RETIRES STRUGGLE IN SOLOMONS (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (10.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Aug. 28. The United Press says although during the forenoon the Navy Department had no news of the progress of the Solomons battle, it is believed that a powerful Japanese naval striking force is still trying to break through the American defences, despite the withdrawal of another enemy fleet composed of transports and escorting warships. The Associated Press of America says that an admonition against describing the current operations in the Solomons as a major victory came from one of the highest Government authorities, who preferred his name not to be mentioned. He said that actually there had been two phases of Japanese activities since the American forces established themselves in the south-western Pacific. He was worried lest the press should lead the country to believe a great and smashing victory had been achieved. The first phase was the landing of 700. Japanese, who were wiped out, on Guadalcanal- Island, and a series of smaller aeroplane attacks, in which we came off pretty well, destroying between 30 and 32 Japanese aircraft, we losing four. The second phase should not be called a full-scale offensive, but a reconnaissance in force. This was the movement on the Solomons of units of the Japanese fleet. This reconnaissance in force has withdrawn. We hit some ships and hope we sank some, but the high authority said he would hate to have people get the idea that a majoi victory had been scored. ' Fight to a Finish General Sir Thomas Blarney, commander of the Allied land forces in Australia, on his return from forward headquarters, said, according to a message from Australia: "The Solomon Islands action is not a single battle, but part of the campaign into which we have gone and which must be fought to a finish. The landing at Milne Bay is part of the Japanese general plan to force her frontiers to the south, but we had forces established in the vicinity before the arrival of the Japanese.” A Japanese Imperial Headquarters communique, broadcast from Tokio, stated: “Japanese naval units on August 24 engaged United States naval reinforcements east of the Solomons. Imperial air units immediately attacked, dealt heavy losses and repulsed the enemy. The results ascertained to August 27 were: First, severe damage to one large aircraftcarrier of a new type, secondly, damage to another carrier of medium size and, thirdly, damage to a battleship of the Pennsylvania type. The Japanese casualties comprise the loss of one destroyer and one small carrier damaged. The engagement is officially designated the Second Battle of the Solomons. This is the first Axis announcement since the new phase of the Solomons naval battle began, and the first word that a Japanese ship had been sunk. While the United States communiques announced hits on at least 12 Japanese warships, including large and small carriers, no claim of sinkings were made. There is no report from Washington regarding United States losses. New Caledonian ’Drome The Secretary of War, Mr. H. L. Stimson, at a press conference, praised the exceptionally meritorious work of an - American negro aviation engineers’ battalion which worked a 24-hour day and completed an aerodrome at New Caledonia which was of material assistance in the Coral Sea battle. The United Press correspondent in Chungking says the Japanese are using floating islands in the Pacific, possibly made of bamboo, large enough for aeroplanes to land on, according to the spokesman of the Chinese military office. He added that intelligence officers photographed an island which was used for refuelling and rest stations for planes and pilots.