DESPERATE RISK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21850, 22 October 1945, Page 5

DESPERATE RISK

U.S. RUSH LANDING

GUADALCANAR VENTURE

SAVO BATTLE BLACK DAY (10 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 21. Admiral J. King, Commander-in-Chief of the United States Navy, said the United States planned to land on Guadalcanar in September, 1942, but it was learned that the Japanese were building up strength preparatory to moving south on August 15 to attack New Caledonia, thereby cutting communications with Australia. Hence the American landing was rushed to August 7.

"The decision was the most desperate of the war because we were compelled to move with less than we needed and sooner than could reasonably be expected,” he said. "Then came the battle of Savo Island on August 8 when we lost four cruisers. I remember that I could not believe the despatch and told them to decode it again. It was for me the war’s blackest day. The whole future became unpredictable.” Asked whether tne blame had been assessed for the loss of the cruisers, Admiral King' said: “We would have held a board of inquiry promptly, but international aspects were involved, including morale and the united war effort. A British admiral commanded the force and one of the cruisers was Australian. Eventually, we appointed a retired British naval officer who was recalled to active service to constitute a one-man court of inquiry. He found that there were many reasons for the disaster, one of which was inexperience in war. 'We were all inexperienced .then.”