JAPANESE BOAST

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20876, 31 August 1942, Page 5

JAPANESE BOAST

“COMPLETE VICTORY" •• i.. ... * ■ SOLOMON ISLES BATTLE “WILL CRUSH ENEMY” (By Telegraph—Press Assn.— Copyright.) (2 p.m.) ' NEW YORK, Aug. 28 ; The Tokio official radio says that the Japanese Navy spokesman, Captain Hiraide, in a broadcast to the nation, claimed a complete Japanese victory in both phases of the Solomons battle. • He said the United Nations had twice broken oft' the naval and air action in the Solomons after suffering disastrous defeats. “if the British and American navies try to engage Us the third or fourth time, it is a foregone conclusion that ’ they will be beaten,-’'’ he said. “It will probably be too hasty a judgment to sr.y that the United Nations will abandon a fresh attempt because 10.000' Marines have been . landed in the Solomons whose lives- are at stoke.” 1 Captain Hiraide said the second action had been fought by the United Nations for political reasons to hearten the. flagging morale of Aus-tralia-as thG war orphan of the Pacific. -Captain Hiraide said the second phase-of the battle began on Monday when Japanese -units located a United States formation composed of two battleships, one large and two medium carriers, cruisers, and many destroyers heading towards < Tulagi. attacked and the Allied ships escaped only under the cover -of darkness. > “Strategically we won .a complete victory as we thoroughly frustrated the enemy’s plans,” he said. “The Japanese Navy is stoutly determined to crush any new enemy challenge against the Solomons or any part of the Pacific.” ■