OF AIR AND NAVAL BATTLE IN SOLOMONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 February 1943, Page 4

OF AIR AND NAVAL BATTLE IN SOLOMONS

American Heavy Cruiser and Destroyer Lost FIFTEEN JAPANESE WARSHIPS SUNK OR DAMAGED SIXTY ENEMY AIRCRAFT DESTROYED AGAINST LOSS OF 22 LONDON, February 16. Washington tonight gave details of the running sea and air battles fought off the Solomons before the Japanese, were driven from Guadalcanal Island. The United States forces discovered simultaneously a great concentration of destroyers and an unusually heavy concentration of Japanese aircraft both in the Solomons and in the muchbombed bases in the New Britain area. At first it was thought possible that the Japanese fleet might be brought to battle, but later it became clear that the enemy only wanted to get his troops away from Guadalcanal and to stop the Americans from landing more men. Heavy naval units never went into action at all. The losses on both sides were nearly all due to air L The United States heavy cruiser, Chicago, was sunk by torpedo plane and a destroyer was also lost. Fifteen Japanese warships were sunk, probably sunk or damaged. lOf these, 12 were destroyers, of which two were sunk and four probably sunk. Three United States motor torpedo boats: were the only casualties to surface attack. Both sides used dive T bombers. Flying Fortresses were also mentioned. The air losses were nearly three to one against the Japanese,'as the United States forces destroyed 60 enemy aircraft for the loss of 22 of their own. A Washington message says the United States Navy Department announced that the losses of which particulars are given above occurred in a week of furious sea and air fightingin the Solomons, beginning on January 29. The action occurred in an area covering almost 100,000 square miles and was almost entirely one of air forces versus ships. No surface ships en- / gaged one another. 1 The Chicago went down after two torpedo-plane attacks. The number of casualties was not large. Captain Ralph Davis, in command of the cruiser, was saved.