FOUR ALLIED CRUISERS SUNK

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 242, 14 October 1942, Page 5

FOUR ALLIED CRUISERS SUNK

AUGUST BATILE 1N SOLOMONS VITAL TRANSPORTS & SUPPLIES SAVED

B.O.W.

RUGBY, October 12.

Allied losses in the Solomons naval battle in August were four cruisers. This is now disclosed by the United States Navy Department. A communique says: "Certain phases of the Solomon Islands campaign not announced previously for military reasons can now be reported. "Reccniialssan.ce in June and July revealed enemy aetivity of much significance in the Japanese-controlled Solomons. An airfield was in process of construction on Guadalcanar and facilities at other nearby bases were being expanded rapidly. Tihis expansion, together with increased aetivity in eastern New Guinea, clearly indicated that the enemy was attempting to establish and maintain control of the air and sea in the Solomons area. The establishment of such control would have put the Japanese in a position to launch a seaborne invasion on Darwin and Australia, and would have seriously threatened our supply lines with Australia and New Zealand, as well as island bases in New Guinea and the Fiji Islands. "It was necessary, therefore, that these enemy designs be blocked by our capturing and utilising his key positions in the south - eastern Solomons. This was accomplished on August 7, when the United States forces surprised and captured positions on Guadalcanar and in the Tulagi area. "A vigorous opposition was offered to the consolidation of our positions. Throughout August 7 and 8 enemy planes raided our shore positions, transports and fleet units, but these did not prevent the United States Marines from seizing most of the key positions on Guadalcanar and Tulagi by the afternoon of August 8. "In the meanwhile, additional troops, supplies and equipment were being unloaded from transports and supply ships, and it was imperative that these operations should be successfully completed. To this end screening groups of Allied cruisers and destroyers were placed on both sides of Savo Island. Additional screening forces were placed near transports.

SWIFT ENEMY ATTACK. "Early in the morning of August 9 enemy aircraft dropped flares over our transports and supply ships. Simultaneously a force of enemy cruisers and destroyers skirted the south coast of Savo Island at high speed and headed in the direction of the transports and supply ships, which were silhouetted in the illuminated areas. Rapidly the enemy sighted our covering unit located to the south-east of Savo and opened fire with guns and torpedoes, seriously damaging and setting fire to the Australian cruiser Canberra. Later it became necessary to abandon the Canberra, which sank the following morning. "After a brief engagement with our south-eastern screen, the Japanese altered course to proceed through the passage north-east of Savo Island. Here the Japanese force encountered our north-east screen of cruisers and destroyers and a close range battle resulted. The action was fought with guns and torpedoes, with the targets illuminated by searchlights and starshells. The enemy fire was heavy and accurate, and the United States cruiser Vincennes was hit re» peatedly and sank during the night. A third cruiser, Astoria, was badly damaged and burned during the night and sank the following morning. The cruiser Quincy was also lost. "It has not been possible to determine the extent* of the damage inflicted on the Japanese ships by our i screening forces. The enemy withI drew to the north-west without at■empting to attack our transports or ■upply ships. ■ "Although the majority of the ■ personnel were saved there were ■ still many casualties as a result B of the sinking of the four Allied ■ cruisers. The loss of these has H now been offset by appropriate ■ reallccation of ships which was ■ made possible by new ship con- ■ struction."