JAPANESE SHIPS BOMBED

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23798, 18 November 1942, Page 3

JAPANESE SHIPS BOMBED

Further Night Raid By Fortresses ENEMY LOSSES IN SOLOMONS (Rcc. 12.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 17. The Japanese naval forces remaining in Solomons waters after the smashing victory of the American fleet have again been under attack by Flying Fortresses of General Mac Arthur's command. In a further night raid on enemy shipping in the Buin and Faisi area, made early on Monday morning, a destroyer and a transport were damaged. This was the sixth consecutive night raid by South-west Pacific Command bombers c i Japanese shipping in the Buin and Faisi area. In these attacks 13 vessels have been damaged. The sea and air fighting in the Solomons has now cost Japan 113 ships sunk or damaged, and CIO aeroplanes destroyed, since August 7. It has been estimated that the United States Navy has destroyed or damaged 110,000 tons of Japanese war shipping in the latest engagements, and that the enemy lost about 30,000 sailors and troops on the sunken, burned, and damaged ships. American commentators report general rejoicing in Washington, “which has been holding its breath for days.” Vice-Admiral Halsey’s handling of his substantially weaker naval forces is said to have “made the Japanese look like novices and given them a lesson in seamanship such as they have never experienced.” In Australia, the Prime Minister (Mr J. Curtin) has given the 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.”

COMPLAINT AGAINST VATICAN

BROADCAST BY ROME RADIO (Rec. 5 p.tn.) LONDON. Nov. 16. The Rome radio, quoting the Italian newspaper “Regima Fascista,” says: “Nobody can deny that representatives of all Italy’s enemies are staying in the Vatican City, including a clique of Jews and well-known anti-Fascists, and also the clan of the ‘Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, which did not feel a moral urge to say a word of sympathy or consolation to the victims c' the barbaric British bombings. “It should never be said again tha>. the organ of the Holy See maintains strict neutrality When it is a question of making common cause with the Poles streams of ink and tears are shed, anc when a few churches are hit during a German advance in France the ‘Osservatore Romano’ calls it barbarism and profanation. Not a single word is published, however, about the six Italian chuvcnes hit, and this attitude cannot Pe considered one of neutrality. but is one of solidarity with our enemies. “Representatives of all the enemy States are living in the Vatican City, which is endervcuring to jeopardise Urban interests in every possible way, and noteworthy collaboration exists among them.”