SURVEY OF BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 November 1942, Page 3

SURVEY OF BATTLE

IN AMERICAN OFFICIAL REPORT MACARTHUR’S AIRCRAFT OF GREAT ASSISTANCE. RESOLUTE ENEMY EFFORT : SMASHED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. November 11. “Air reconnaissance in the early days of November revealed a heavy concentration of Japanese transports, cargo carriers, and combatant units of the enemy fleet in the region of New Britain, north-west of the Solomons area,” says a United States Navy Department communique, based on preliminary reports. “An attempt by the enemy to recapture our positions in the Guadal-canal-Tulagi area was ' indicated, and on November 10 it became evident that the expedition was being launched in force. “Japanese naval forces approached the south-eastern Solomons from the north as other detachments, including many transports, moved south-east toward Guadalcanal from Rabaul and Buint on Bougainville Island), where the expeditionary forces had been assembling. “General Mac Arthur’s aircraft were of great assistanse to our naval forces, both before and during the naval actions. Army bombers made repeated and successful attacks on units of the Japanese invasion fleet at Rabaul and Buin. Japanese Spearhead. “The spearhead of the Japanese attack comprised two battleships of the Kongo class, and a number of other vessels, believed to have been two heavy cruisers, four light cruisers, and about 10 destroyers. This unit reached the Guadalcanal area shortly after midnight on November 13, intending to bombard our shore positions prior to a large-scale landing from a large group of transports which had been observed in the Buin-Shortland Island area, in the north* Solomons. “This Japanese bombardment force was formed into three groups. As they approached the bombardment area they were engaged by units of our fleet, and the ensuing battle was fought at close range. It was during this engagement that Rear-Admiral D. J. Callaghan was killed. „ “During this fierce night engagement the Japanese seemed confused, and during the latter part of the battle two of the three Japanese groups were firing at each other. Enemy Withdrawal. “Shortly afterward the enemy fire ceased and the Japanese withdrew from the battle and retired to the north. During the day of November 13, United States aircraft made continuous attacks on damaged Japanese ships which remained in the area. “During the afternoon a large formation of at least 12 enemy transports, under heavy naval escort, headed toward Guadalcanal from the Bougainville area. As a preliminary to the proposed landing an enemy surface force bombarded our positions at Guadalcanal shortly after midnight on the morning of November 14. “Later in the morning as the transport group was near Guadalcanal it was struck heavily by our air forces, and at least eight transports were sunk. The remainder continued toward Guadalcanal. “During the night of November 14 United States naval forces engaged the Japanese surface units in the Guadalcanal area. Details of this engagement have not yet been received. “On the morning of November 15, four enemy cargo transports were found beached at Tassafaronga, about seven and a half miles west of our positions on Guadalcanal. These transports were attacked by air and artillery and naval gunfire, and were destroyed. “The same morning, our patrol aircraft reported that the Japanese forces were withdrawing to the north. No reports of any further action have been received.”