NAVAL CLASH IN SOLOMONS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 36, 6 November 1943, Page 5

NAVAL CLASH IN SOLOMONS

Hits On Three Jap

Cruisers

90-MINUTE BATTLE (By (sS ra Au;7rai r ian cXsToiXtJ 11 ' 1

(Received November 5, 9.-15 p.m.) SYDNEY, November 5.

At least one Japanese cruiser and four destroyers were sunk in a battle with Allied warships oil BouSJ,nvilte in the northern Solomons last Monday’night. Two other enemy cruisers anil two destroyers were damaged. These ships were part of an enemy task force ot cruisers and destroyers, 1— ships in all, which attempted to intercept the American landing at Itinpios Augusta Bay. It is believed that the Japanese task force comprised lour cruisers and eight destroyers. In a subsequent air battle fought as a subsidiary to the naval action, 17 Japanese planes were shot down. No ALied vessels were lost, though damage and casualties were sustained. This additional news of naval and air actions fought as part of the Bougainville lanuings is given in General MacArthur’s latest communique. Enemy Outmanoeuvred. The Japanese warships steaming south were intercepted by the Allied naval screen 40 miles from the landing point. Completely outmanoeuvred, the enemy ships broke off the engagement after three-quarters of their number had been hit. Only scant details of the action are yet available, but it is likelythat the Japanese warships did not fire more than a few shots before they split into three groups and fled to the north. The indications are that the damage to the Allied naval force was not inflicted by enemy warships but by the subsequent enemy air attack. After ’two hours of mopping up, the. Allied ships regrouped for protection against air attack. About 8.30 on Tuesday morniug, the Japanese sent over 67 bombers and fighters. Land-based Allied intercepting fighters appeared on the scene and 17 enemy planes were shot down in battle or by anti-aircraft fire. These claims have not Been included in earlier reports of the heavy. Japanese losses during the Bougainville landing. The enemy may still be attempting to reinforce his Bougainville garrisons. Early on Wednesday morning, a Liberator sighted a convoy of three destroyers and three large merchantmen moving south of Kavieng, New Ireland. One merchant vessel was damaged. Off Gazelle Peninsula, New Britain, a Liberator sank an 8000-to.n merchantman. A terrific explosion followed direct bomb hits and the ship immediately went down.

NIGHTMARE BATTLE

Allied Fighters Struck First At Rabaul (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, November 5. “It was like a Hollywood version of a raid,” said a Lockheed Lightning pilot when describing Tuesday’s spectacular air strike against Rabaul. Allied airmen agree that the resulting battle was the toughest yet fought in the South-west Pacific.

Estimates of the number of Zeros in the air vary from 100 to 200. Though outnumbered by about two to one, the Lightnings shot them to pieces. Most of these Zeros had, evidently just arrived at Rabaul. They were brightly painted, and bore no sign of the volcanic dust which dims them after two or three days in the Rabaul area.

Our Lightning fighters struck first. They arrived 30 minutes ahead of the powerful force of Mitchell medium bombers.

Japanese warships fired many rounds of anti-aircraft shells directly into the water in front of our attacking bombers. These cafised waterspouts more than 100 feet high. Collision with such a waterspout means disaster for a plane attacking at a low level, but none of the Mitchells .was lost because of this enemy ruse.

Photographs taken during the battle confirm every detail of the damage claimed, but tho Japanese losses must be measured cautiously against the major forces which the enemy has assigned to counteraction in the Solomons. The Rabaul reverse may postpone, but is not. likely to cancel put the evident. Japanese determination to make a strong fight on this front. However, with not even a pretence of equality in the air, the Japanese have only the remotest chance of cheeking the advances in the Solomons.

10 JAPANESE SHIPS

Sunk By U.S. Submarines (British Oilleial Wireless.) BUGBY, November 4. Ten enemy vessels have been stink unci three others damaged in Pacific waters by American Submarines, states a U.S. Navy Department communique, They included a large tanker, a medium tanker, a patrol vessel, a large freighter, four medium freighters, a small freighter, and a large cargo transport. These sinkings have not been previously reported.