HEAVY JAPANESE LOSSES
SOLOMONS FIGHTING (Special Australian. Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 28. Tokyo radio has been making its usual large claims about losses inflicted on the American Fleet in the Solomons. However, the Japanese admit their own heavy losses, including the sinking of two cruisers, two destroyers, a submarine and five transports and also damage to a number of other ships. The Japanese communique adds that more than a 100 Japanese aircraft has been lost in the Solomons operations. American claims now place this number at close on 400. The United States Navy’s latest losses in the Solomons are serious, but were not unexpected, according, to ViceAdmiral Edwards, second-in-command of the United States Fleet. He added that- although the United States Navy was prepared to accept such losses United States naval strength in the South Pacific was considerably below that of the Japanese, whose navy was now the second largest in the world because of Britain’s heavy losses. He revealed that several enemy submarines participated in the attacks on the Wasp and that some of them were believed to have been destroyed. LOSSES OF CARRIERS “The loss of the Wasp and the severe damaging of another United States air-craft-carrier in the Solomons battle were grievous blows to a branch of the American Navy that was relatively weak when hostilities began,” says The Sydney Morning Herald military correspondent. “America entered the war with seven carriers and 11 building. Since then three have been destroyed, together with the carrier-tender Langley. Against these losses three new carriers have been launched this year and the number under construction was increased last month to 15. In addition, it has been announced that the conversion of 35 cruisers and merchantmen to carry aircraft is under way. “Although the United States Navys total strength in vessels carrying aircraft is now probably greater than at any time since Pearl Harbour, neither this fact nor the extent of the enemy losses should detract from the conclusion that the American Navy’s paramount need is larger quantities of v e s " seis that can serve as carriers, declares the writer. “As the wastage rate of carriers is so high and as so many advantages accrue from their use under the Pacific conditions much of the future of the Pacific war depends upon the race for carrier construction, at least until the day when ultra longrange bombers will relegate sea-borne aircraft to a less important role. WITHHOLDING INFORMATION Australian commentators are increasingly supporting those in the United States in expressing uneasiness at the repeated withholding of disagreeable information about the Solomons fighting. “No true and balanced picture of the Solomons scene can be obtained if minor successes are promptly emphasized and serious losses are not acknowledged until weeks and months afterwards,” says The Sydney Morning Herald in an editorial. “But even more disturbing to public opinion both here and in the United States are reports of continuous friction between American Army and Navy leaders. This deplorable rivalry must have a far more damaging effect on the campaign than the further disability of a divided command.” AIR RAIDS ON KISKA Lightning Fighters Present (8.0.W.) RUGBY, October 27. Air attacks on Kiska are reported in a United States Navy Department communique, which says: “On Friday, Army Liberator bombers, accompanied by Lockheed Lightning fighters, dropped 18 tons of bombs in the camp area and submarine base at Kiska. On the following day Army Flying Fortresses raided Kiska, dropping bombs near the submarine base. During these raids the Japanese anti-aircraft and shore batteries were active, but no enemy planes were seen. A number of hits on the target areas was observed, but the extent of the damage was not determined.” CHINESE PLANES BOMB JAPANESE BASE (Rec. 7.50 p.m.) CHUNGKING, Oct. 27. Chinese planes bombed the Japanese air base at Yungcheng, in Shansi province. Two Japanese fighters were shot down at Mengtze. in Yunnan province.
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Southland Times, Issue 24887, 29 October 1942, Page 5
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651HEAVY JAPANESE LOSSES Southland Times, Issue 24887, 29 October 1942, Page 5
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