SECRET REVEALED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 310, 11 October 1943, Page 3

SECRET REVEALED

AXIS STRATOSPHERE PLANE. PILOTED BY RUSSIAN SPY. LANDING IN SOVIET TERRITORY. (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 10.20 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 10. A new secret Axis stratosphere plane on a test flight over Rumania (it is reported) landed behind the Russian lines on the Black Sea coast. The Stockholm newspaper “Allehanda” said that the pilot of the plane turned out to be a Russian spy who had succeeded in becoming pilot of the plane while in Germany. The test flight was to try out several new, secret instruments. Carrying several Rumanian staff officers, the plane took off from Bucharest for a flight into the stratosphere and did not return. The “Allelianda” says the pilot handed over the Rumanian officers and the plane to the Russian Army.

FORCES SMASHED.

JAPANESE LOSE THREE SHIPS. DESTROYERS IN THE SOLOMONS (Special Australian Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) SYDNEY, Oct. 10. A powerful Japanese naval force was* smashed by United States destroyers in the central Solomons on Wednesday night. In one of the most daring actions of the Pacific war the Japanese lost a light cruiser or heavy destroyer flotilla leader and two destroyers sunk, another destroyer probably sunk, and two or three de stroyers seriously damaged. The American force suffered damage and casualties officially described as “moderate.”

The Japanese warships are reported to have been convoying small vessels apparently bent on evacuating the last remnants of the enemy garrisons from Kolombangara and Vella Lavella. They were engaged off the north-west coast of Vella" Lavella, 15 miles northwest of Kolombangara. A convoy of small transport vessels sheltering behind the Japanese warship fled when the battle began.

The Japanese light cruiser or heavy flotilla leader and one destroyer exploded and sank after being straddled by shellfire. Another destroyer was sunk by a torpedo. The Japanese withdrawal from the central Solomons has been admitted by the Tokio radio. Quoting an Imperial Headquarters communique, the radio said that Japanese forces “carried out a successful transfer” from Kolombangara and Vella Lavella to rear positions after having caused heavy Allied losses in these islands.

This latest demonstration of American naval superiority also emphasises the full Allied control of “The Slot,” a 300-mile water invasion route down the centre of the Solomon Islands. Since the American landing at Guadalcanal- 14 minths ago, “The Slot” has become a graveyard for dozens of Japanese warships.

In the hope of evacuating thenblockaded troops on Kolombangara and Vella Lavella, the Japanese recently have been making extensive use of power barges. Allied air and naval craft destroyed about 180 of these barges in the waters of “The Slot” during last month. Reports from south-west Pacific headquarters say that aerial reconaissance on Wednesday afternoon indicated that the Japanese were sending a destroyer force from Bougainville to escort a considerable number of barges and small combatant craft to central Solomons waters. An American destroyer force was dispatched north to intercept the enemy. The flotilla was shadowed by Japanese aircraft throughout the evening.

A small forward force of destroyers under Captain Walker arrived 15 miles north-west of Vella Lavella, in Bougainville Strait, at 11.30 p.ip., and soon afterwards sighted the Japanese ships in three groups, all close together. The first group included four destroyers and a light cruiser or heavy flotilla leader. The second group comprised four more destroyers and a third a varied assortment of gunboats, light naval craft and barges. Without Avaiting for reinforcements, Captain Walker decided to attack the greatly-superior enemy force. His destroyers engaged the first two groups of nine enemy Avarsliips with torpedoes and gunfire. Most damage Avas done to the first group. The second group speedily lost heart and turned and made off at high speed. The third group Avas never engaged. It waited on the outskirts of the action for some time and then fled. “This Avas. an extraordinary peiv formance by the Japanese, Avhose destroyer commanders hitherto have lacked neither courage nor aggressiveness,” Avrites an Australian Avar correspondent Avith the United States Fleet in the South Pacific. Admiral William F. Halsey, com- . mander of the South Pacific forces, has sent the following dispatch to Captain Wjalker: “Our hats are off in (pride for your brilliant and determined action. God bless all of you!” Captain Walker commanded the destroyer Avhich attempted to take off survivors from the burning Australian cruiser Canberra during the action near Guadalcanal* on the night of August 7 last year. When an unidentified ship approached the Canberra the survivors immediately cast Captain Walker’s destroyer adrift, cheering her as she moved off into the darkness.