MOVE FORESEEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 120, 17 November 1942, Page 3

MOVE FORESEEN

COUNTERED FROM AIR

STORY OF BATTLE

(Rcc. 2 p.m.) RUGBY, Nov. 16. "Air reconnaissance in the early days of November revealed a heavy concentration of Japanese transports, cargo carriers, and combat- . .ant units of the enemy fleet in the ' region of New Britain, north-west of the Solomons area," says a Unittll States Navy Department communique- "The enemy attempt to recapture our positions in the Guadalcanal-Tulagi area was indicated, and on November 10 it became evident that the expedition was being launched in force. - "Japanese naval forces approached the'south-eastern Solomons from the north as other detachments, including many transports, moved south-east towards Guadalcanal from Rabaul and Bum, where the expeditionary forces had been assembling. LED BY BATTLESHIPS. "General Mac Arthur's aircraft were of great assistance to our naval forces, both before and during the naval actions. Army bombers made repeated and successful attacks on units of the Japanese invasion fleet at Rabaul and Bum. . "The spearhead of the Japanese attack comprised two battleships of the Kongo class and a number of other vessels, believed to have been two heavy cruisers, four light cruisers, and about 10 destroyers. This unit reached the Guadalcanal area shortly after midnight on November 13, intending to bombard our shore positions prior to a large-scale landing from a large group of transports which had been observed in the Bum Shortland Island area. JAPS SHELL EACH OTHER. "This Japanese bombardment force was formed into three groups. As they approached the bombardment area they were engaged by units of our fleet, and the ensuing battle was fought at close: range. It was during this engagement that ' Rear-Admiral D, J. Callaghan was killed. • "During this fierce night engage- , xnent the Japanese seemed confused, and during the latter part of the battle two of the three Japanese groups were firing at each other. - "Shortly afterwards the enemy fire ceased and the Japanese withdrew from the battle and retired to the north. During v the day of November 13 United States aircraft made continuous attacks on the damaged Japanese ships which remained in the area.

"During the afternoon a large formation of at least 12 enemy transports, under heavy naval escort, headed towards Guadalcanal from the Bougainville area. As a preliminary to the proposed landing an enemy surface force bombarded our positions at Guadalcanal shortly after midnight on the morning of, November 14. "Later in the morning, as the transport group was near Guadalcanal it was struck heavily by our air forces, and at least eight transports were sunk. The remainder i continued towards Guadalcanal. ! WIGHT ACTION FOUGHT. "During the night of November 14 United States naval forces engaged the Japanese surface units in the Guadalcanal area. Details of this engagement have not yet been received. "On the morning of November 15, four enemy cargo transports were found beached at Tassafaronga, about seven and a half miles west of our positions on Guadalcanal. These transports were attacked by air and artillery and naval gunfire, and %ere destroyed. "The same morning, our patrol aircraft reported that the Japanese forces were withdrawing to the north. No reports of any further action have been1 received."—B.O.W.

Other sources suggest that America's newest battleships of the South Dakota class, with 16in guns, form part of the American fleet now in the Solomons. Australian commentators all point to Japan's evident determination to continue the Solomons campaign to the bitter- end. Earlier attempts against the American positions cost''the enemy three cruisers sunk and 35 damaged, nine destroyers sunk, two more probably sunk and 11 damaged, and four battleships and four aircraft-carriers damaged, according to Allied communiques.