SOLOMONS BATTLE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20915, 15 October 1942, Page 3

SOLOMONS BATTLE

JAP. NAVAL LOSS U.S. SUBMARINES' TOLL WARSHIPS & FREIGHTERS (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (10.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 14. Smashing blows against the. Japanese Fleet in the Solomons area were delivered bv the United States naval and air forces on October 12. Ona enemy cruiser was sunk, a second cruiser badly damaged and put out "of action and four destroyers and one medium-sized transport sunk in a naval battle which resulted when renewed Japanese efforts were made to land troops on Guadalcanar Island. The sole United States ship loss was a single destroyer. This new triumph, which is regarded as perhaps the most heartening news received from the south-west _ Pacific since Jthe United States Marines occupied the south-eastern Solomons, makes a total of 48 Japanese ships sunk or damaged and at least - 270 planes destroyed in the group in two months. The latest success is announced in a special Navy Department communique, which says: “On various occasicns in recent weeks the Japanese have succeeded in increasing the number of their troops on Guadaleanar by night landings from cruisers, destroyers' and small transports. Navy and Marine Corps aircraft from Guadalcanar persistently attacked the landing parties, but the air attacks did not hauit the landings. Therefore, a task group of United States cruisers and destroyers were ordered to intercept enemy ships which attempted to make further landings. Thirty Minutes’ Battle “At midnight on October 12 the task group engaged a force of enemy cruisers, destroyers and transports west of Savo Island. After 30 minutes’ battle, 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 5000-ton transport. On the morning of October 12* Navy and Marine Corps torpedo planes and dive-bombers left Guadalcanar 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 bombs exploded nearby. The cruiser was left dead in the water and burning. “On the afternoon of October 12 an air group from Guadalcanar attacked an enemy cruiser and a 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 the previous engagements. A direct hit and several near misses set fire to the accompanying destroyer, which was left in a sinking condition. Minimum Enemy Losses

“The reports to date indicate that as a result of the 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 and one medium-sized transport sunk. One destroyer was our only ship loss in these actions.” This battle was apparently that referred to by .the Paris radio. -A Chungking report quotes the Chinese military spokesman as saying that the Japanese fleet at sea in the Pacific comprises four aircraftcarriers, seven battleships, and a number of cruisers. The fleet was reported to be “recently observed moving south.” American submarines operating in Far Eastern waters have sunk five Japanese ships, including a heavy cruiser, two cargo . vessels, a tanker and, a trawler. In addition, they damaged a transport which was probably sunk, and damaged two tankers. These figures have not previously been announced. Flying Fortress and Liberator heavy bombers, escorted by Lockheed, Lightning and Bell Airacobra fighters, successfully raided Japanese ships and shore installations at Kiska, in the Aleutians, reports a Navy Department communique. Fires were observed on shore and damage is reported to ships in the harbour. Only moderate anti-aircraf, fire was encountered. No hostile planes were observed in , the air. Although receiving minor damage, all our planes returned.