JAPANESE LOSE 30,000 MEN IN SOLOMONS

Grey River Argus, 18 November 1942, Page 5

JAPANESE LOSE 30,000 MEN IN SOLOMONS

ELEVEN WARSHIPS AND TWELVE OTHER SHIPS SUNK

FOUR LARGE UNITS LOST AND SEVEN WARSHIPS DAMAGED

Americans Lose light Warsnips

Enemy’s Debacle in Attempt to Take Guadalcanar

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16The United States Navy ment on Monday, announced that inc United States Fleet in the Solomons area had won a smashing v i®tory the Japanese Navy, when ’the cnemj was driven off while f tten ? pt ' ngnnc.irecapture, by force, American P tions in the South-west Solomon Is lands, in the Guadalcanal- W area. In the greatest navall batt e of the war, stated the Navy Department, twenty-three Japanese ships were destroyed, including eleven Wc ships sunk, one of which was aba tie sh'p, three were heavy cruisers and two more were cruisers, whit seven warships were damaged, vessels sunk included . twelve'trans, ports. There were eight America Warships sunk, comprising two ■£ cruisers and six destroyers. The United States Navy Depart ment also announces that rear a miral D. J. Gailaghan was killed m action during the current en S a S® ment in the Solomons. He was a*ed 52. Fie was Naval Aide to Ml. Roosevelt during 1938-41. He was recently given a sea command m the South Pacific, and received his promotion to Rear Admiral while- in New Zealand. , T , n In all there were twenty,-three Japanese shins sunk in the operatioi s, which lasted for nearly a week. The following preliminary suivey of the operations has been given oy the Navy Department:— “Air reconnaissance in the eany days of November revealed a heavy concentration of Japanese transports cargo carriers, and combatant units of the enemy fleet in the New Britain region of the North-west Solomons area. An enemy attempt to recapture our positions in the GuadalcanarTualagi area was indicated. “On November 10 it became evident that an expedition was being launched in force. Japanese naval forces approached the South-eastern Solomons from the north, while detachments, including many transports, moved south-etast towards Guadalcanar from Rabaul and Buin, where an expeditionary force had been assembling. , . “General MacArthur’s aircraft were of great assistance to our naval forces both before and during the naval actions. Army bombers made repeated ■ successful attacks on units of 'the Japanese invasion fleet at Rabaul and “The spearhead of the Japanese attack comprised two battleships oi the Kongo class, and a number oi other vessels, believed to have been two heavy cruisers, four light cruisers and about ’ten destroyers, this unit reached the Guadalcanar area shortly after midnight on Friday 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 Buin-Shortland area. “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. During this fierce night engagement, 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 north. , _ ~ i “During the same day, Friday Nov-, ember 13 United States aircraft made i continuous attacks on damaged Jap-’ anese ships which remained in the, area. “On the same afternoon, Friday Nov. 13, a Japanese formation of at least twelve enemy transports, under a heavy naval escort, headed towards Guadalcanar from the Bougainville area. As a preliminary to the proposed landing, the enemy surface force bombarded our positions at Guadalcanar. “Later when the transport group was near Guadalcanar, it was struck heavily by our air forces, and at least eight transports were sunk. The re-. meinder continued towards Cruactal - | canar Japanese surface units were met in the Guadalcanar area. Details. of this engagement are not yet received. “On Sunday morning November 15, enemy cargo transports were found beached a't Tassafaronga, about seven and a half miles west of our positions at Guadalcanar Island. These transports were attacked by air and artillery and naval gunfire, and destroyed the same morning, our patrol aircraft reported Japanese forces withdraw ng north. No reports of any further action, have been received.”

A Running Battle

U.S. GUNNERY SUPERIOR VICTORY NOT YET CONCLUSIVE. (Rec 12.20) NEW~YORK Nov. 16. The New York "Times’ Washington correspondent says: Air power played an important role in the victory. It was not however, the dominant factor, as it was in the Coral Sea or Midway battles. The bulk of the destruction was this time accomplished by tne gun crew's of American warships, wno out-fought the enemy in slashing engagements of the traditional tjme. A Navy spokesman said: This action should not be considered to be a decisive or conclusive victory, assuring our domination in the Pacific. However, it apparently has removed the critical threat that has. been hanging over our land forces in New Guinea and the Solomons. "A running battle occurred, when victories on the part of our ground and air forces in the battle areas of the South-western Pacific had forced th e Japanese to attempt a coun-ter-attack in force so as to relieve their, soldiers. For this the American Command was' able to lay plans to meet the enemy some distance from his bases, instead of undertaking an expedition into the heart of the Japanese waters.” NO CARRIERS ENGAGED (Rec. 12.10) NEW YORK, Nov. 16. In the greatest battle in naval his-

tory since the Battle of Jutland, United States forces smashed a tremendous Japanese armada. This was apparently the first major Pacific engagement in which aircraft carriers did not participate. Furthermore it is noted that, this is the second American victory since Admiral Halsey assumed command of the South Pacific forces. He repulsed a Japanese attempt to take Tulagi end Guadalcanar on October 25 and 26.

U.S. MANOEUVRING ADVANTAGE.

SYDNEY, Nov. 17.

It is suggested America’s newest battleships of the South Dakota class, with 16-inch guns, formed part of the American Fleet in the Solomons. It is believed at Washington that clever manoeuvring gave the United States Fleet an advantage in the battle for the Solomons. The New York “Herald-Tribune” said: “If the Japanese Fleet is beaten in this attempt to overwhelm Guadalcanar and Tulagi, Japan’s military position may well be taken as badly as that of the Nazis by 'the Mediterranean campaign.” The “New York Times’s” military correspondent Hanson Baldwin said: Japan had assembles “probably the largest fleet of warships and transports yet seen in the South Seas,” in a major effort to expel the American forces from the Solomons. They probably had naval superiority,” and their bases were much closer to Guadalcanar than the American bases. The Japanese, too, apparently nad built a new airfield on an island relatively close to Guadalcanar. Australian commentators all pointed to Japan’s evident determination to continue the Solomons campaign to the bitter end. Four earlier attempts on the American positions cost the enemy three cruisers sunk, 25 damaged nine destroyers sunk, two more probably sunk, 11 damaged, and four battleships and four aircraftcarriers damaged according to Allied communique claims. Mr. Glen Perry, “New York Sun” correspondent said: With the Jaoanese beaten off further Allied steps for the development of Salamaua and Lae may reasonably be expected, with the objective of pincirm off and taking the big Japanese base of Rabaul. In that event the Allied position will be firmly assured and Japan’s -position so seriously weakened as to make her the subject of attack from several points. ' She will be driven from the approaches to Australia, and Australia ’to all intents and purposes, will be safe from invasion. On the other hand, the Allies will be threatening to cut off the Japanese forces on Java, Sumatra and Borneo, and Dinning large Japanese naval and air forces. The greatest single Allied advantage is the control of the only ’decent airfield with an efficient fighter plane range of the' battle area. While this is held, the Japanese are up against tough going.

Thirty Thousand Men

LOST BY JAPANESE. [Special to N.Z. Press Assn], (Rec. 11.20.) SYDNEY, Nov. 17. It has been estimated that the United States Naw destroyed or damaged one hundred and ten thousand tons of Japanese war shipping in the latest engagement, an also_ that the enemy has lost about thirty thousand sailors and troops on ships that either have been sunk, burned or damaged. In the Solomons, sea and air fighting has now cost Japan one hundred and thirteen ships sunk or damaged, and six hundred and ten ’planes destroyed since August 7.

PACKED JAP TRANSPORT SET ON FIRE. SYDNEY, Nov. 17. The dispersed Japanese convoy, attacked by the South-west Pacific Command bombers on Saturday extended further than the eye could see. This is reported by Flying Fortress pilots, who are now revealed to have scored several near misses against the ships, as well as a direct hit on a 12,000-ton transport, which was set on fire. “It was packed to the gunwales with men,” said one of the' pilots. ‘We strafed the decks and saw the Japanese being bowled over. The snip was crammed so tight that they did not have a chance to escape our fire. ' RELIEF AT WASHINGTON. (Rec. 10.50.) SYDNEY, Nov. 17. American commentators report that there is general rejoicing in official quarters at Wasnington. It said Washington had "been holding its breath for days,’’and Admiral Halsey’s handling of his substantially weaker naval forces is said “to have made the Jananese look like novices, and' given them a lesson in seamanship such as they had never experienced.’’

“Will Clean Japs Out”

SAYS ADMIRAL NIMITZ. BATTLESHIPS PROVE EFFECTIVE. (Received Nov. 18, 12.40 a.m.) PEARL HARBOUR, Nov. 17, Admiral Nimitz told the press: “One result of the Solomons battle will be an eventual expulsion of the enemy from Guadalcanar Island. The result is what 'we expected from such men as Admiral Halsey andjfis command. The Jap has been bnloying an observation of everything w e had. Now we are going to clean him out. I think he will bei very uncomfortable soon.” Admiral Nimitz said: "The Navys faith in battleships has been justified in the battle, in which they were used by both sides. Our battleships contributed considerably to the losses inflicted on ths enemy.”