JAPANESE SHIPS BOMBED

Southland Times, Issue 24875, 15 October 1942, Page 5

JAPANESE SHIPS BOMBED

Two Enemy Cruisers Damaged (Rec. 7 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 13. The Navy Department announced that United States airmen bombed and damaged two enemy cruisers and that they also shot down 15 enemy planes in the area north of Georgia Island. The communique states that on Friday morning Marine Corps aircraft attacked a Japanese force of two light cruisers and four destroyers. A direct hit damaged one cruiser, which when last seen was down by the bow. The second cruiser was also attacked and minor damage was reported. Three enemy seaplanes which attempted to fight off the attack were shot down. SEAPLANES STRAFED Navy and Marine Corps search planes bombed enemy aircraft installations at Rekata Bay and strafed seaplanes on the water. The results of the attack are not known. Next day four waves of Japanese bombers with a fighter escort, totalling about 35 bombers and 30 fighters, attempted to bomb the American positions on Guadalcanar. Army, Navy and Marine Corps fighters intercepted and forced the bombers to drop their loads in open fields. Eight enemy bombers and four Zero fighters were shot down. Two United States fighters were lost. United States Marines succeeded in extending their positions to the west-

ward on the north shore of Guadalcanar after two days’ offensive operations. Army fighters assisted by strafing enemy troops and installations and the enemy suffered many casualties,