AMERICAN CLASH IN KULA GULF

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24631, 9 July 1943, Page 3

AMERICAN CLASH IN KULA GULF

NINE JAPANESE"SHIPS SUNK SMASHING BROADSIDES WREAK HAVOC (Special Australian Correspondent); (Received July 8, 9.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 8 ~ The United States naval victory in the battle of Kula Gulf, Central Solomons, was more shattering than was indicated by earlier reports. The Japanese losses were at least nine warships and possibly 11, including three cruisers. Every ship of the Japanese force was either sunk or damaged, while the Americans lost only one cruiser, the Helena, 9700 tons. The Helena was one of the ships damaged in the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbour. " Amplifying reports of the battle of Kula Gulf during the early hours of Tuesday indicate that the enemy naval force was decisively defeated, with the loss of at least nine warships, states General Mac Arthur's communique. "In the first phase of the engagement four of five hostile destroyers were struck by smashing broadsides that within five minutes destroyed the entire group. " Three, possibly four, enemy light cruisers were then taken under fire. All were either sunk or set on fire within 1 5 minutes. One was beached. Later, during the rescue of survivors from the light cruiser Helena, our destroyers intercepted and sank two of three enemy ships attempting to escape from the gulf and damaged the third." It is believed that the task of the Japanese naval force was to bombard United States positions on Rendova Island and so help to relieve the pressure on the enemy air base at Munda, New Georgia. The American warships intercepted and attacked before the Japanese task force reached its target area.