NAVAL CLASHES

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

NAVAL CLASHES

SEA AND AIR ACTION BOTH SIDES SUFFER BID FOR GUADALCANAR WASHINGTON. Feb. 2. The Navy - Department announced that the United States and Japanese naval and air forces have been engaged in a new major battle for control of the Solomons. A Navy Department communique says that both sides have suiiered jorae losses, but to reveal the details of the engagement a* mis time would endanger the success of mture operations in this area. This is the action referred to a few days ago by the Tokio radio, which reported a battle off Rennell Island, south of Guadalcanal - . A Washington spokesman said today that tne Japanese claims ior Americans losses were grossly exaggerated and their own losses understated. He added that the Japanese move was apparently designed to attempt to land heavy reinforcements of troops and munitions on Guadalcanal-, to break the American grip on the southern Solomons and smash American naval power in the whole south-west Pacific area.

It was unknown whether the Japanese had succeeded in landing men and supplies. The American forces in the area were known to be considerable.