NO BATTLE YET

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21009, 4 February 1943, Page 3

NO BATTLE YET

SOLOMONS AREA U.S. & JAPANESE FLEETS SEVERE SKIRMISHES (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (10.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON. Feb. 3. “A pitched battle has not yet developed in the Solomon waters, but both sides have been engaged in severe skirmishes and no one knew what the future held.”'said the Secretary of the Navy, Colonel F. Knox, at his first press conference after his return from his Pacific tour, referring to the United States Navy Department communique which stated that a major battle was going on. He said the assumption that a tremendous battle was in progress was incorrect, but it might be correct to sav the action involved a reconnaissance in force. The Japanese were on a fighting expedition, trying to elicit information by a series of announcements. Colonel Knox added that the Japanese showed a greater tendency to surrender at Guadalcanal - . The Japanese had abandoned atempts to reinforce there as the Americans dominated the area. A Navy Department communique reports near misses by army bombers against a Japanese cargo ship near Tarawai Island, in the Gilbert Group, last Tuesday, as well as several heavy raids against Munda airfield in New Georgia. Flying Fortresses hit an enemy cargo ship three times off Shortland Island in the northern Solomons, and an American destroyer shelled Japanese barges off Cape Esperance on Guadalcanal - .

When 20 Zeros intercepted the second attack by Flying Fortresses on enemy ships in the Shortland-Buin area three Flying Fortresses were lost.