Heavy Enemy Plane Losses

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 42, 18 August 1942, Page 5

Heavy Enemy Plane Losses

During the following night an enemy force of cruisers and des!rovers attempted to attack United States transports, cargo ships, and support vessels. They were intercepted and engaged by cruisers and destroyers.

The heavy fighting which followed resulted in the enemy being forced to retreat before reaching the vessels engaged in the landing operations. In the close-range fighting damage was suffered on both sides.

This night action is the only engagement between surface vessels fought so far in the Solomon Islands. The communique points out. that in 'a night engagement it is impossible to determine accurately the damage inflicted on the opposing forces. No further statement can be made at present as to damage to U.S. ships because of the obvious value of such information to the enemy.

NAVAL NIGHT ENGAGEMENT

LONDON, August.l 7. Details of the Solomon Islands operations since August 7 have now been issued in Washington.

The statement shows that the United States attacks were a complete surprise to the enemy. Eighteen Japanese seaplanes were destroyed before they could go into action. The marines made several landings on islands in the GuadalcanarTulagi area.

Vigorous enemy resistance was rapidly overcome and a number of prisoners were taken. Positions captured on shore have since been developed and are now well established.

During these landing operations, cruisers and destroyers covered United States transports and cargo ships which were unloading troops and equipment. '

The communique goes on to say that the United States forces on August 7 and 8 were attacked by enemy land-based aircraft. These were driven off and at least 18 more planes were destroyed, making- 36 in all. Only minor damage was suffered by the United States forces.

a means to clear the seas and reinforc* their own troops at will. If they succeed the battle is lost. MOVE, ANTICIPATED. Some such counter-offensive _as the Japanese now seem to be taking in the Solomons area was anticipated by the Allies, and dispositions have undoubtedly been taken to meet it. If the "airfield which is reported to have been captured on \Gundalcanar Island is usable and is not subject to dangerous 'interference by Japanese machines from the remaining airfields, its possession by the Americans will strongly help the fleets at sea, especially if bombers from New Guinea are now being based there. The correspondent also suggests that the battle is likely to develop rather than diminish in magnitude once the Solomons are in Allied hands, and that the Japanese tenure of New Britain and the Papuan forts will become increasingly precarious. i*t is not likely that the enemy will yield the Solomons till they are decisively defeated at sea. If the Japanese do not try to overpower the American naval units, which include aircraft-carriers and battleships, in the Solomons area* they may well attempt a counter-offensive in strength at some other point in the I south Pacific, thus hoping to draw off some of the Allied ships and giving them a better opportunity to deal with them piecemeal. It is impossible at" the present time to assess the Allied naval losses.. No such operation can be carried out without severe losses, but it can be said that so far there is no indication that they have exceeded the expectations or reduced seriously the strength of the offensive.