STRIKING VICTORY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 July 1943, Page 3

STRIKING VICTORY

GAINED OVER JAPANESE IN KULA GULF NAVAL BATTLE SIX ENEMY WARSHIPS PROBABLY SUNK. ONE AMERICAN CRUISER LOST. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, July 7. Allied naval forces have scored a striking victory over the Japanese warships in the Kula. Gulf, in the central Solomons. The battle, which began on Sunday night, ended yesterday with six enemy cruisers and destroyers probably sunk and four damaged for the loss of one American light cruiser. This is announced in General MacArthur’s communique, which also reports violent air fighting over _ the Solomons and increased American pressure against the Japanese air base at Munda. A damaged Japanese destroyer, fleeing from the battle area, went aground near the mouth of Ba’oera Harbour, and was later attacked by Mitchell medium bombers, and Dauntless, Avenger and Wildcat dive-bombers, which scored a number of direct hits. In Washington the Secretary for the Navy, Colonel Knox, declared: “The Japanese have taken a darned good licking.” It is also disclosed that the American destroyer Strong, of 2100 tons, which was built last year, was torpedoed and sunk in the Kula Gulf during Sunday night’s bombardment of Munda and Vila, on opposite sides of the gulf. The Strong carried a cew of 250, but no details of the casualties are available. “Though the United States Navy has massed strong forces in the Solomons and would welcome a showdown with Japan, the commanders of the American vessels in the Kula Gulf were probably glad when the Japanese withdrew,” says the New York ‘ Her-ald-Tribune’s” Washington correspondent.

Observers believe that the American task force in the area was bent on neutralising the Japanese shore positions at Vila and Bairoko Harbour rather than taking on Japanese surface vessels, the correspondent says. A foimidable Japanese task force could have bottled up the narrow entrance of the gulf and, with the shore batteries, could have rendered the position extremely difficult for the Americans. The observers also speculate as to whether a Japanese two-man submaiine possibly sank the destroyer Strong.

JAPANESE STUNG. Stung by their naval defeat, the Japanese have made desperate attempts to intercept our aircraft in air fighting over the Kula Gulf, and a series of dogfights ensued. The purpose of the Japanese na«'al force in the restricted waters of the gulf is not clear at present. It is nor possible to indicate whether they forced their way into the gulf seeking battle with the American forces, or whether they were there to protect a convoy. So far there have been no reports of transports, and only naval vessels have bebn mentioned. The Tokio radio has made no specific mention of the battle, but it claimed that heavy losses were inflicted on the Americans between last Wednesday and Sunday including the sinking of eight transports, one cruiser and five destroyers. ■ NEW GEORGIA CUT OFF. War correspondents in the Solomons say that if the Japanese wish to save New Georgia and the surrounding islands, action by their fleet seems essential. The Japanese garrison on New Georgia Island is now isolated from its supply bases in the northern Solomons. Complete control of Vangunu Island, together with the capture of Viru harbour on New Georgia, gives the Allies control of the sea approaches to the north through Blanch Channel and the enemy garrison on New Georgia seems to face the choice of surrendering or digging in for another futile and bitter battle to the death. The correspondents report that mass enemy resistance has no*, yet been encountered in the land fighting, and the American casualties so far have been light. Using infiltration _ tactics, the American troops are con inuing almost imperceptibly to envelop Munda. Yesterday American heavy bombers started fires among Japanese positions in the Solomons area. In New Guinea patrol clashes were reported near Salamaua.

BEATEN BACK i ANOTHER ENEMY RAID ON DARWIN. PLANE LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES. SYDNEY, July 7. Forty-eight Japanese planes, 27 bombers, escorted by 21 Zero fighters, attempted to strike a heavy blow at Darwin at midday yesterday, but they were driven off by defending Spitfires after severe fighting. Slight damage was caused to ground installations. Reporting the raid, General MacArthur’s communique today says: Our intercepting fighters destroyed five bombers and two fighters and probably destroyed two bombers and damaged two others. We lost seven planes Three of the pilots were saved and three others were seen to bale out.” In five raids on Darwin since June 20, the Japanese have employed a total of 162 aircraft. Of these, 30 have been destroyed, seven probably destroyed and 20 damaged. Sixteen Spitfires have been lost, but many of the pilots were saved. The previous raid was on June 30, when Spitfires shot down eight enemy planes and damaged eight. NEW GUINEA FIGHTING. The raid on Darwin was among several enemy attacks reported in the latest communique from the SouthWest Pacific headquarters. At Nassau Bay, in northern New Guinea, soon after midday yesterday, eight medium bombers and seven dive-bombers attacked Allied positions, but caused no damage or casualties. Nine enemy

bombers and four fighters made their sixth raid on Benabena in the Bismarck range country, inland from Madang. In the Arafura Sea, north of Australia, three enemy floatplanes and four medium bombers which were attempting to attack a small Allied convoy, were driven off by escorting Beaufighters. Our Hudsons raided Koepang, Timor, bombing Penfoci aerodrome, while Liberators, flying through ..heavy weather to reach their objective, attacked the airfield at Babo, Dutch New Guinea. The communique also reports a patrol in Bobdubi Ridge area, near Salamaua, where the Australians are maintaining pressure on the village. MACARTHUR’S REPORT ENEMY SHIPS SUNK & DAMAGED. NUMBER OF JAPANESE PLANES DESTROYED. SYDNEY, July 7. General MacArthur's communique states: — “Buin-Faisi: Heavy bombers attacked the enemy aerodrome on Ballale Island with 20 tons of high-explosive bombs, starting fires. Twelve fighters. intercepted, but all of our planes returned. “Kula Gulf: Preliminary dispatches report that our naval surface units intercepted an enemy force of cruisers and destroyers in Kula Gulf during Monday night. Details are not yet available and a final assessment cannot be made, but it is indicated that six enemy ships were probably sunk and four damaged. We lost one cruiser. One damaged enemy destroyer, which was beached near Babera Harbour, was attacked by our medium and dive-bombers, which scored seven direct hits with 5001 b bombs, resulting in violent explosions and fires. “Four out of seven intercepting enemy Zeros were shot down by our fighter escort. One of our heavy bombers, which was on a reconnaissance, was attacked by five Zeros. It shot down two and probably destroyed a third. “New Georgia (Bairoko Harbour): Our torpedo and dive-bombers attacked the Enogai Inlet area, dropping over 26 tons of explosive bombs on enemy positions. A delayed dispatch reports the loss of the United States destroyer Strong during a bombardment of hostile positions during Sunday night. “Rendova: Eighteen enemy bombers attacked our positions shortly after noon, causing moderate casualties and damage. Three of the planes were shot down by anti-aircraft fire. Our ground forces have been reinforced and are consolidating.”

KISKA SHELLED NO REPLY FROM ENEMY BATTERIES. LONDON, July 7. American warships have been in action in the North Pacific. A task force yesterday shelled the Japanese base at Kiska, in the Aleutians. The bombardment brought no reply from the enemy’s shore batteries.