TERRIFIC GUNFIRE DUEL

Southland Times, Issue 24824, 17 August 1942, Page 5

TERRIFIC GUNFIRE DUEL

FULL-SCALE SEA BATTLE IN SOLOMONS'

(Special Australian Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 1 a.m.) SYDNEY, August 17. A full scale naval battle in the Solomon Islands continues. No further official details have been announced, but a Washington naval spokesman states that American and Japanese warships are engaged in a terrific gunfire duel at close range. With air superiority Allied planes are also bombing enemy ships.

In the land fighting United States marines are reported to have taken thousands of prisoners and to have inflicted heavy casualties, but there is still no indication of a collapse in enemy resistance. Allied casualties are also heavy. Bridgeheads were gained at considerable cost. “It is even possible,” writes one American war correspondent, “that in proportion to the numbers making the first assault the initial losses might fairly be described as terrific.” A report that our forces have made a bridgehead on a fifth island, either New Georgia or Ysabel are not yet confirmed. None of the islands on which our forces have landed are yet fully occupied. Strong enemy opposition is being maintained. The bridgehead on Ysabel, one of the larger islands on the eastern side of the Solomon Islands

would indicate that United States forces are driving northward on both sides of the group. The Japanese are known to have flung into the battle naval reinforcements, including heavy ships from their base at Truk in the Caroline Islands, north of the Solomons. Well informed American opinion is that while the latest news does not give much room for optimistic speculation it is generally encouraging.