FURTHER LOSSES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25069, 10 November 1942, Page 3

FURTHER LOSSES

JAPANESE NAVAL UNITS ATTACKED OFF GUADALCANAR (Rec. 7 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Noy. 8. A Navy Department communique states: “Early on the morning of November 7 our motor torpedo boats attacked two enemy destroyers at Lunga Point, north of our positions on Guadalcanar, and one destroyer is believed to have been sunk. Before noon a small United States auxiliary transport was damaged by an enemy torpedo. Our troops continued to advance eastward in the vicinity of Metapono River. “During the afternoon United Statesaircraft attacked an enemy surface force about 150 miles north of Guadalcanar. Enemy planes attempted to protect the formation, consisting pf one light cruiser and 10 destroyers. The enemy cruiser was badly damaged and possibly sunk. One destroyer' was badly damaged, and five float-type Zero’s and seven float-type aeroplanes were destroyed. Four of our planes failed to return.’’ ENEMY NAVAL STRATEGY SMALL UNITS SENT OUT (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) (Rec. 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 9. The Japanese are losing five men for every American lost at Guadalcanar, according to the American Secretary for the Navy, Colonel Knox. He added that this disparity in casualties was probably due to the fact that the United States marines assigned to the Solomons combat were all especially chosen for their expert marksmanship. This policy was apparently finding its justification in the island jungle warfare, where the fighting was between small groups weaving among trees rather than between largs magges in opposing lines.' A Tokio radio report says naval operations continue in the Solomons waters, and a new United States fleet concentration is expected. This is the first contradiction by the Japanese. v of their earlier boasts of overwhelming victory and smashing American naval power. The second round of the battle for the South Pacific, it is generally expected, will be a terrific struggle, involving forces even greater than those used in the first round. The American newspaper columnist, Mr Drew Pearson, says United States naval officers feel that if they could induce the Japanese to come out in line,of battle, with all their battleships, carriers, cruisers, and destroyers operating as a unit, the enemy could be decisively beaten. The Japanese, however, so far refuse to come out in full force, but send out small task units in endeavours to whittle down the opposing fleet.