PHILIPPINES BATTLE

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24401, 30 October 1944, Page 5

PHILIPPINES BATTLE

Six U.S. Warships Lost i ENEMY ADMITS SINKINGS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9.20 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Oct. M. “American losses in the Battle Of tbs Philippines totalled six warships," says a Navy Department announce* ment. They were the aircraft-carrier Princeton, two escort carriers, two destroyers, and one destroyer escort. The Japanese losses have been amended to five cruisers damaged instead of four, making a total of 27 warships sunk or damaged. The Japanese now admit the loss of another aircraft-carrier and a destroyer in addition to the loss of a battleship, two cruisers and a destroyer announced by the Tokyo radio on Thursday. The Japanese communique also admits that another Japanese carrier was damaged, and 126 aeroplanes failed to return. Amplifying dispatches of the naval battle south of Leyte Gulf on October 25, General MacArthur’s communique confirms the report that the enemy .losses were greater than originally estimated. The total enemy naval force that came through the Surigao Strait Was composed of the two battleships Yamashiro and Huso, two heavy cruisers, two light cruisers, and 10 destroyers, Both battleships, one heavy cruiser, one light cruiser, and six destroyers were sunk in the immediate action. The remaining two cruisers and four destroyers were badly damaged and fled. They were destroyed in subsequent air attacks. Many survivors from the sunken enemy warships have been captured, including the captain of one of the destroyers. The battleships were the Yamashiro and the Huso, both of 29,330 tons, with 12 14-inch guns. The Huso was completed in 1915, and the Yamashiro in 1917. Both were reconstructed In 1932-33.

Flying Fortresses based in China have attacked Japanese naval units fleeing from the Battle of the Philippines and sank one large transport and damaged, other vessels. The Tokyo radio claims that 84 Allied vessels have been sunk or damaged, and continues to issue fantastic reports of successes. “Enemy wrecks litter the sea. The Japanese victory has caused great rejoicing at Manila, was the latest report. U.S. Commanders’ Statements Admiral E. J. King, in a speech, said the Philippines battle had reduced the Japanese fleet “to not more than hall its maximum strength.” The Associated Press says that Admiral King was obviously referring to Japanese firepower and fighting ability rather than the number of warships. The Commander-in-Chlef , of the Pacific Fleet (Admiral Chester W. Nimitz), in a speech, said the smashing defeat in the Philippines had rendered the Japanese fleet incapable of challenging any sizeable portion of the American Fleet for some time to come. Reviewing the American advance In the central Pacific, Admiral Nimitz said: "in the last year we have captured 13 major, bases, rendered many more valueless; killed 8000 first-line troops up' to the beginning of the Philippines campaign, and isolated another 95,000 troops. “Nine hundred enemy ships have been sunk or damaged in the last five months and more than 3000 aircraft have* been lost in the air and on the ground. The American Fleet has sustained meagre losses. “We have completed a number of essential preliminaries to tackling the main enemy strength. The supreme test will come in the year ahead.” “Victory Over-emphasised” Some Washington circles feel that, the naval victory in the Philippines has been over-emphasised by the press and radio, in that the action was by no means a decisive one, by which the Japanese navy can henceforth be written off. A competent naval observer wanted that although the Japanese navy had reached a new low figure, American .capital ships would not be able to move- in immunity to bombard the strongly-held enemy shore or support the landings. The observer said the danger of mines would be a hindrance to the American Navy’s pursuit of toe enemy into home waters. , The Washington correspondent of the “New York Tunes” says that the Japanese in the next few months are expected to wage a furious battle of repairs in order to get their damaged ships back in fighting trim. Therefore, the logical assumption Is that American air power, including Superfortresses, Liberators, and carrier aeroplanes will exert every effort to damage Japanese naval repair yards. . Rear-Admiral Oldenorf, reviewing the battle of Surlgao Strait, said: “I believe that three enemy battleships, five cruisers, and six 'to eight destroyers came within range of my guns. I couldn’t find any evidence that a single one got away.” The United Press corresoondent aboard Vice-Admiral Kinkaid’s flagship says that this is the first authoritative indication that the Japanese may have lost three battleships in Surigao Strait alone. - Rear-Admiral Oldenorf added: “It was the kind of naval battle you dream about. We had them, under crossfire and were able to hit them with guns and torpedoes at the same time. My theory was the old-time gambler’s—never give a sucker a chance, “If the Jap was sucker enough to come through the straits I wasn’t going to give him a chance,” Asked why the Japanese attempted such a daring move m narrow waters, Rear-Admiral Oldenorf replied: “We had been supporting toe ground action for several days. The Japanese apparently thought they would catch us asleep and they intended to clean out the Leyte Gulf.”