SHIPS & PLANES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 October 1942, Page 4

SHIPS & PLANES

JAPAN’S HEAVY LOSSES

IN SOLOMONS BATTLE.

THOSE OF UNITED STATES

MUCH LIGHTER.

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.50 p.m.) WASHINGTON, October 14. A total of 52 Japanese ships have been sunk or damaged, and at least 270 planes lost, in the Battle for the Solomons, while American losses total ten ships and an unrevealed number of aircraft —probably less than a quarter of the enemy’s plane losses. The summary of Jap-

anese sinkings is based on United States Navy figures.

The point-blank battle in the Guadalcanal’ Channel on August 9, in which the Canberra and three American cruisers were sunk, was a constant explosion from beginning to end, according to Lieutenant-Commander Henry Heneberger, gunnery officer on the Quincy. “Our' cruisers accomplished their mission,” said Lieut.-Commander Henneberger. “The Japanese naval force did not reach the transports landing Marines in the Solomons. By opening fire the American warships saved the transports. The Japanese probably sent a small force designed to get in fast, do maximum damage to the transports, and then scamper. The fight developed into a pitched battle. When the enemy was going by at high speed, at a range of 2000 or 3000 yards, we fired on them with everything we had. I do not know what damage we caused, but I saw searchlights going out, indicating hits.”

The “New York Times” Pearl Harbour correspondent says it is unaccountable that the Japanese forces failed to follow up the advantage they gained on that terrible night, and left the United States transports alone.