NAVAL VICTORY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 May 1942, Page 3

NAVAL VICTORY

—♦ GAINED BY UNITED STATES FORCES OFF SOLOMONS Eight Japanese Ships Sunk THREE OTHERS BADLY DAMAGED SIX ENEMY AIRCRAFT ALSO DESTROYED LONDON, May 7. Washington announces a big’ American naval victory over the Japanese in the South-West Pacific. The United States forces sank or damaged eleven Japanese ships, including nine vzarships, during a naval engagement off the Solomon Islands. Eight ships were definitely sunk and three were badly damThe Washington communique, referring to the South-West Pacific areas, stated that very excellent news had been received. A naval engagement between United States and Japanese forces on May 4 resulted in the following losses to the Japanese. SUNK: ONE LIGHT CRUISER, TWO DESTROYERS, FOUR GUNBOATS, ONE SUPPLY VESSEL. DAMAGED: ONE 9000-TON SEAPLANE TENDER, ONE LIGHT CRUISER, ONE CARGO VESSEL. Six Japanese planes were also destroyed. The action took place in the vicinity of the Solomon Islands. It was accomplished with the loss of three American planes. FURTHER ENEMY LOSSES Tanker and Two Merchant Vessels Sunk by Submarines American submarines on patrol in the Far East have sunk the following enemy ships. One medium-sized cargo ship; one medium sized tanker; one small cargo ship. These losses have not been announced in any previous communiques. There is nothing to report from other areas.