CRUISER ENGAGES BATTLESHIP

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23799, 19 November 1942, Page 5

CRUISER ENGAGES BATTLESHIP

ADMIRAL CALLAGHAN’S DARING ATTACK “SAILED RIGHT THROUGH 1 ENEMY FLEET” (Rec. 10.30 p.tn.) NEW YORK, Nov. 17. Referring to the Solomons naval victory as "one of the great battles in our history,” Mr Roosevelt said in a broadcast address that the spearhead of the American intercepting force was commanded by Rear-Admiral Daniel J. , Callaghan, aboard the leading ship, the cruiser San Francisco. . . "The San Francisco sailed right into the enemy fleet, and right through the whole enemy fleet, her guns blazing, 1 said Mr Roosevelt. “She engaged three enemy vessels, sinking one. She en- j gaged at point-blank range an enemy I battleship heavily superior in size and ' fire-power. She silenced the battle- < ship’s big guns and so disabled her that ■ she could be sunk by torpedoes from ' our destroyers and aircraft. The San : Francisco was hit many times. 1 "Rear-Admiral Callaghan, who was my close personal friend, and many of < his gallant officers and men gave their i lives, but the San Francisco was brought safely back to port. She will fight again. The commander of the task force of which the San Francisco . was a part has recommended that she • be the first of our Navy’s vessels to be 1 decorated for outstanding service. Let i us thank God for such men as these. < May our nation continue to be worthy i of them throughout this war and for ever ” Asked at his press conference for i comment on the Solomons battle, Mr Roosevelt’s only comment was: “It was 1 a major victory.” Obviously grieved, Mr Roosevelt added “Admiral Calla- : ghan did a glorious thing, taking a 1 10,000-ton cruiser against a 25.000-ton I Japanese battleship at point-blank range.” Rear-Admiral Callaghan paved the way for the Solomons ; victory by a daring night attack : against three lines of Japanese ships, according to the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times.” His vessels steamed between the enemy lines, opening fire at point blank range, destroying several Japanese ships and so confusing the enemy that after the American ships withdrew the Japanese continued firing at each other. , The Pearl Harbour correspondent of the United Press of America reports ; that Rear-Admiral Callaghan was , killed on the bridge of his flagship off ! Savo Island after he had thrown. a cruiser task force against a superior ; group of Japanese battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and other vessels screening ■ a large body of transports which was ; attempting to land reinforcements on : Guadalcanar. , , , ! Rear-Admiral Callaghan closed auda- 1 ciously to within 2000 yards of a Japanese battleship and scored 18 hits 1 on it with his main battery. At the i same time a secondary battery on ( Rear-Admiral Callaghan’s cruiser sank i Japanese destroyers before the rem- 1 nants of the shattered enemy force i could retire. „ ... ’ During the action Rear-Admiral , Callaghan’s vessel received several 14in , shell hits from the enemy battleship , which wrecked the bridge and other ( parts of the superstructure and killed } Rear-Admiral Callaghan. . . i