HEAVY NAVAL DEFEAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 November 1942, Page 3

HEAVY NAVAL DEFEAT

SUFFERED BY THE JAPANESE IN THE SOLOMONS Eleven Warships and Twelve Other Vessels Sunk INCLUDING BATTLESHIP AND HEAVY CRUISERS AMERICANS LOSE TWO LIGHT CRUISERS AND SIX DESTROYERS LONDON, November IG. A Washington Navy Department communique just issued states that Japanese naval attacks in the Solomons have now been driven off, with the following Japanese and American losses: — , JAPANESE 1 BATTLESHIP SUNK 3 HEAVY CRUISERS SUNK 2 LIGHT CRUISERS SUNK 5 DESTROYERS SUNK 8 TRANSPORTS SUNK 4 CARGO TRANSPORTS DESTROYED 1 BATTLESHIP DAMAGED 6 DESTROYERS DAMAGED AMERICAN 2 LIGHT CRUISERS SUNK 6 DESTROYERS SUNK A Press Association extraordinary message from Washington reports’.—“The Navy Department announced a smashing victory in the Solomons. Twenty-three enemy ships have been destroyed and seven damaged in the greatest naval battle of the war.” .The announcement adds: “Our forces in the Solomons sank eleven Japanese warships, including a battleship and three heavy cruisers, damaged seven warships, sank twelve transports and drove off the Japanese attempting to recapture the American positions by force.”