Greatest Naval Battle Since Jutland

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13800, 18 November 1942, Page 3

Greatest Naval Battle Since Jutland

SMASHING OF JAPANESE ARMADA " U ' IN SOLOMONS

T y. THR EE ENEMY SHIPS DESTROYED;

.I4JOR VICTORY SCORED BY AMERICAN "'" "* l NAVAL FORCES

London, Nov. 17. T nanese in their third attempt to sweep the Americans out "! lomons have failed miserably. Those of their ships which f° lestroyed received heavy damage, were driven back and ""ffral Nimitz, commanding the United States naval forces in pile said that a major victory had been won and that little, !* assistance reached the enemy at Guadalcanal*. M. enemy's naval forces, which were in great strength and ■■ 1 eluded two battleships, came in from three different direcm okp hv far their strongest attack on Guadalcanal* to date wis completely frustrated. The'attack commenced after midnight on the morning of Frii Vovember 13. United States naval forces and planes engaged *'enemy surface craft in three groups with devastating results fewer than 23 enemy ships being destroyed on Friday and The Japanese losses are now given as follow: —Sunk, one battle- ,. t jj ree heavy cruisers, two light cruisers, five destroyers, eight Sports and four more cargo transports shot to pieces as they Hon the beach seven and a half miles west of Henderson airfield m Guadalcanal The Japanese transports were jammed with troops, the estimated number on board being about 40,000. The total enemy [ m in the battle are given as at least 30,000. The situation on Guadaleanar is now stated to be well in hand. In addition to the above ships definitely sunk a second Japanese battleship was damaged and also six more destroyers. The United States losses were two light cruisers and six destroyers. When the big Japanese naval force attempted to bombard United States positions on Guadaleanar on Friday night they were attacked by United States surface craft at short range and all the wmy ships were either destroyed or driven back. In the confusion the enemy ships started firing at one another. H day our naval craft and planes passed through the enemy warship screen and got among the Japanese transports which were almost annihilated.

Rear Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan, of the United States Navy, lis killed in action during the engagement on the bridge of his -lip. He was formerly President Roosevelt's naval aide and was a alive of Oakland, Calif ornia. U.S. air reconnaissance early this month had revealed a heavy Mentation of Japanese warships and transports near New Eritain and north-western Solomons. The size of the enemy armada indicated that the action would probably be of a decisive character. The enemy naval forces included two battleships of the Kongo (to and a number of other heavy vessels.

A correspondent states that the enemy confusion probably realty from the strength of the resistance which he encountered and iid not expect. The Japanese have already annihilated the American feet three times, he adds. The Japanese, radio announced that this !W the decisive battle between Japan and the United States and »• they have lost it.

"The enemy fleet is now seriously crippled," said ■ Senator Andrews of Florida. "The battle was of greater significance than Mway. The Japanese fleet will be swept from the Pacific." A U.S. naval spokesman said it was the greatest naval engagelent since Jutland. The enemy had suffered 30,000 casualties. Colonel Knox, U.S. Secretary to the Navy, sounded a note of *ion in connection with the situation in the Solomons. "The • E 'y safe assumption," said Colonel Knox, "and one on which we tee all our plans, is that the Japanese will be back again. We have Wfed a major but indecisive victory. At present we have naval apwmacy in the Solomons."

Admiral Nimitz said it was now only a question of time before were turned right out of Guadaleanar.