MORE DETAILS OF JAPANESE LOSSES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 November 1942, Page 3

MORE DETAILS OF JAPANESE LOSSES

Results Summed Up By Admiral Nimitz TRIBUTES TO ADMIRAL HALSEY’S LEADERSHIP GUADALCANAL SITUATION WELL IN HAND , LONDON, November 17. The United States Secretary for the Navy, Colonel Knox, describes the American naval victory in the Solomons as major but indecisive, He said the losses the Japanese had suffered would make it very difficult for them to return, but the only safe attitude was to assume that the enemy would try again. An estimate quoted by London says that in this battle of annihilation, the Japanese have lost between 20,000 and 40,000 troops in the sunken transports. The Press Asociation’s special correspondent in Australia says it is estimated the United States Navy destroyed or damaged 110,000 tons of Japanese war shipping in the latest engagement, and that the enemy lost about 30,000 sailors and troops on the sunken, burnt and damaged ships. American commentators report general rejoicing in official Washington, “which had been holding its breath for days.” Admiral Halsey’s handling of his substantially weaker naval forces is said to have “made the Japanese look like novices” and given them “a lesson in seamanship such as they had never experienced.” In Australia Mr Curtin has warned that “the battle is not yet over, but the enemy knows he has been fighting.” Mr Curtin expressed gratitude to the United States “for the magnificent forces used in this theatre.”

Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief of the United States Pacific Fleet, in a communique stated that the strongest Japanese attempt to date to recapture Guadalcanal has been completely frustrated by the aggressive action of ViceAdmiral Halsey and his forces. The enemy transports were almost annihilated and little, if any, assistance was given to the Japanese land forces on Guadalcanal. The American army, naval and Marine Corps forces continued to have the situation well in hand. Admiral Nimitz said that all the enemy forces were either destroyed or driven back, and a major victory was obtained by the American forces. He told reporters: “l am sure the result will lead to the f ‘ eventual expulsion of the Japanese from Guadalcanal.”