U.S. REPORT ON SOLOMONS BATTLE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 40, 17 February 1943, Page 3

U.S. REPORT ON SOLOMONS BATTLE

(New Zealand Press Association.—Copyright.—Rec. 10 a.m.) WASHINGTON, February 16. The Navy Department announced to-day that 15 Japanese ships, including 12 destroyers, were sunk or damaged and two American warships, including the heavy cruiser Chicago, were lost in a week of furious sea and air fighting in the Solomons area, beginning on Friday, January 29. The announcement adds that the Japanese also lost 60 planes, while the Americans lost 22 planes. The Navy Department announced that the action, whiQh_,_ occurred in an area covering almost 100,000 square miles, was jarj entirely an air versus ships fight, no surface ships having engage Bnu " one another. a f .,. The cruiser Chicago went down after two torpedo plarattacks. Casualties among the ship's company were not larg^ 08, and those saved included the commanding officer, Captain Ralpi Davis. tno The United States Secretary for War, Colonel Knox, told s the Press later that the Navy Department's afternoon communique would elucidate the recent»air and sea engagements in the Solomons transparently, and explain why the Navy held up the details.