NAVAL LOSSES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 November 1942, Page 4

NAVAL LOSSES

IN < THE PACIFIC WAR . VERY HEAVILY AGAINST JAPANESE. AMERICAN CORRESPONDENT’S SURVEY. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.35 a.m.) NEW YORK, November 21. J The “New York Times” Washing7 ton correspondent, Mr Charles Hurd, appraising the effect of the Solomons battle, says: “A single week changed the military and naval estimate of the Pacific war from anxiety to confidence. It is conservatively estimated that the Japanese have lost 325 warships since the war began, compared with less than ninety American ships. These include: — Japanese American Battleships .7 1 ’ 1 Aircraft-carriers 6 4 Cruisers 29 6 Destroyers 43 29 Submarines 19 , 5 Transports and Merchantmen 173 19

“Despite these losses the Japanese still may have the superiority in tonnage and men in the Pacific, but they have probably lost the taste for the initiative until circumstances again force -them to take it,” Mr Hard continues. “Japan at present must fight a strenuous defensive action, probably losing Guadalcanal and New Guinea. Rabaul is becoming an object of daily bombardment, while the enemy’s main sea force probably must lie at Truk. Thus the way is cleared for early attempts. to oust the Japanese from Bougainville and start the process of rolling them back from their outposts in conquered possessions. Japan probably will try at least another hard stab and may send two heavy forces simultaneously against Port Moresby and Guadalcanal, thus attempting to * open the door to Australia and cut off the armies in the Solomons and New Guinea. This action is obvious .and necessary, but because it is obvious, Admiral Halsey is ready. There is no reason to believe, that our naval leaders, who out-thought and .. out-fought the. Japanese last week, will not be ready with another bag of tricks when this attemnt is actually made.”

JAPANESE TROOPS AT LEAST’IO,OOO KILLED. IN GUADALCANAL BATTLES. (Received This Day, 9.35 a.m.) WASHINGTON, November 21. United States marines and soldiers have killed at least 10,000 Japanese on Guadalcanal since the campaign began on August 7, conservatively estimates a naval officer, Lieutenant Peterkin, who has just returned from the front. He said he believed the actual total would be astounding, as it was not unusual for 1,000 men to be killed nightly in one sector. Lieutenant Peterkin pointed out that the first stage of the great naval battle began on the afternoon of November 12, when 21 Mitsubishi bombers, with Zero fighters .attacked Admiral Callaghan’s naval force, which was supporting American transports. All the Japanese planes were wiped out, only one possibly escaping. The enemy transport force, was reported on the morning of November 14, “corning down the groove.” Planes from Guadalcanal met the enemy 75 miles northwestwards and smashed the transport force so badly that Lieutenant Peterkin thought that the succeeding sea ,action vzas merely an aftermath. He said there was no celebration on Guadalcanal, where the situation changed so rapidly that one never knew what would come next. Nevertheless the troops felt that the. worst was oyei now and were optimistically discussing the next island objective.