SOLOMONS VICTORY

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13801, 19 November 1942, Page 5

SOLOMONS VICTORY

ENEMY SAYS LITTLE

End of Gallant Admiral

Tribute By Roosevelt

London, Nov. 18

So far the Japanese have had very little to say about the latest defeat inflicted upon them by the United States navy in the battle of the Solomons.

Now, however, they admit that ohe of their battleships was sunk in this encounter.

President Roosevelt in his latest broadcast spoke of the U.S. Navy’s great fight off Guadalcanal*. He said Rear-Admiral Daniel Callaghan, who was killed in the battle, was his personal friend. Admiral Callaghan, said the President, took his cruiser, the 10,000ton San Francisco, right through the enemy fleet. He engaged and inflicted heavy damage on three Japanese warships and also silenced all the guns on a Japanese battleship. This battleship was then torpedoed and sunk by U.S. planes and torpedo boats.

The Japanese have now lost 103 ships in their efforts to retake Guadalcanal American commentators report general rejoicing in official Washington, “which has been holding its breath for days.” The handling by Vice-Admiral W. P. Halsey, naval commander in the South Pacific, of his substantially weaker naval forces is said to “have made the Japanese look like novices and has given them a lesson in seamanship such as they had nevef experienced.” In Australia the Prime Minister, Mr Curtin, has issued a warning that “the battle is not yet over, but the enemy knows he has been fighting.” Mr Curtin expressed gratitude to the United States “for the magnificent forces used in this theatre.” The Tokio official radio, quoting Imperial Headquarters, has been making its usual extravagant claims of victory. It stated that more than half the Allied fleet in the Solomons was destroyed or crippled in the battle last Thursday, adding: “The fate of the United States landing forces on Guadalcanal’ is now in the hands of the Japanese forces. This latest defeat of United States forces means that the American navy’s counter-attacks in the Solomons have been shattered.”