FIRST BLOOD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20916, 16 October 1942, Page 4

FIRST BLOOD

SOLOMONS BATTLE JAPANESE LOSSES SEVEN SHIPS HIT 35 PLANES DESTROYED (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (2 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 15. A United States Navy Department communique issued to-day states that the Japanese have succeeded in landing reinforcements on the north coast of Guadalcanar, but 33 Japanese aircraft have been destroyed and seven Japanese ships hit, including a battleship. This includes hits scored by aircraft and also by shore batteries, which hit three destroyers which were among the Japanese force bombarding the American positions on Guadalcanar on Tuesday night. This force is believed to contain battleships, cruisers and destroyers, and apparently is additional to the force which escorted the transports landing Japanese troops on the north coast of the island. A full version of the communique reads as follows: “Despatches from our forces in the south Pacific reveal the following chronological developments leading up to the current battle in the Guadalcanar area. On Monday morning Army Flying Fortresses bombed the airfield and shore establishments on Buka Island. Fires were started and 10 wrecked bombers and fighters were observed on the ground. Army bombers hit and set on fire one cargo ship and damaged another. Six enemy fighters were shot down. Navy Marine Corps aircraft attacked enemy ships southwards of New Georgia Island. U.S. Reinforcements Land “On Tuesday the airfields at Guadalcanar were twice bombed by the enemy. Three enemy planes were shot down and one of our fighters was lost. By nightfall United States auxiliaries landed reinforcements for our troops on Guadalcanar. Although the ships were attacked by enemy bombers no damage was suffered. Our ships were unloaded and withdrew. During Tuesday night, the airfield and shore installations on Guadalcanar were heavily bombarded by an enemy surface force believed to contain battleships, cruisers, and destroyers, shore batteries scored three hits on enemy destroyers during the bombardment.

“On Wednesday afternoon Guadalcanal' airfield was attacked by two separate groups of enemy bombers, each with a fighter escort. Our fighters were unable to intercept the first flight, which contained about 25 aircraft. During the second attack, we shot down nine of 15 bombers and also destroyed four fighters. We lest one fighter. “Early this morning enemy transports escorted by destroyers, cruisers, and one battleship were sighted off Savo Island. This force proceeded to land troops on the north coast of Guadalcanar westward of our airfield, An aircraft striking group attacked the enemy ships, making three direct hits on one transport, while two other transports were' left burning, the Japanese battleship was damaged, and one enemy fighter was destroyed. Other enemy forces, including heavy units, have been sighted in the vicinity of Guadalcanar.”