IN SOLOMONS NAVAL AND AIR BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 August 1942, Page 3

IN SOLOMONS NAVAL AND AIR BATTLE

Attack on Guadakanar Repulsed With Very Heavy Losses TOTAL OF FOURTEEN JAPANESE SHIPS PUT OUT OF ACTION ANOTHER TWELVE ENEMY AIRCRAFT DESTROYED *! LONDON, August 26. A United States Navy Department communique regarding the Solomon Islands naval and air battle describes the situation as encouraging. The Japanese attack on Guadalcanal the large island just south of the base at Tulagi, has been repulsed wi very heavy losses. In addition to a cruiser which was lei burning fiercely, American aircraft attacked six other ships and left them ablaze and the enemy was forced to withdraw. These latest losses, bring the total of ships lost in the action to 14. Yesterday American fighter aircraft shot down seven enemy bombers and five fighters for the loss of one fighter. In Sunday s raid 21 enemy planes were destroyed for the loss of only three American machines. . . ..While the second battle of the Solomon Islands is being fought 600 miles to the east, planes from General MacArthur s command have attacked a new convoy of enemy warships and transports just north of the south-east tip of New Guinea, says a Press Association dispatch from Sydney. A Japanese gunboat was destroyed by a direct bomb hit, and two transports were heavily strafed. The Allies lost one plane in the operation. The direction which the Japanese convoy was headed is not revealed by the south-west Pacific headquarters, but it is significant that the attack on the vessels was made south of the Trobriand Islands, which is the nearest island group to the south-east tip of Nevz Guinea. The raid was made by fighterbombers, which are being increasingly used in this theatre. The convoy is officially described as “small.' 1 ’ The attack was only a small part of the widespread Allied air activity on Tuesday.