ANOTHER DEFEAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 July 1943, Page 3

ANOTHER DEFEAT

0 SUFFERED BY JAPANESE IN KULA GULF CRUISER & THREE DESTROYERS SUNK. FURTHER ENEMY LOSSES PROBABLE. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, July 13. A second naval battle has occurred in the Kula Gulf, in the central Solomons. In a dramatic clash with American warships last night, at least one enemy light cruiser and three destroyers were sunk and two other destroyers were probably sunk. Reports are not yet complete. General MacArthur’s communique today makes no mention of any Allied losses. It is net known whether the Japanese force engaged was the one which was reported yesterday to have turned tail and fled before the Allied air attack near New Georgia. It appears that only light Japanese forces of cruisers and destroyers were engaged in the latest action. * In the Kula Gulf last week, American warships sank nine Japanese warships and possibly 11, including three cruisers, for the loss of one cruiser, the U.S.S. Helena. , Allied warships and aircraft have continued their relentless pounding of Munda, the major enemy airfield stronghold on New Georgia Island, while American ground forces continue to close in against the airfield’s defences. The aerial bombardment of Munda continues day after day. From the morning of the invasion nearly a fortnight ago. American planes have been active over the area. Yesterday, our fighters added eight more enemy fighters and one bomber to the tally of Japanese planes shot down. A record day’s destruction of Japanese aircraft in this area stands to the credit of a Marine Corps air group which shot down 20 Zeros, 17 medium bombers and eight seaplanes, and probably destroyed 12 more enemy aircraft for the loss of nine of their own machines. Most of the United States pilots who were shot down were picked up by our rescue craft. General MacArthur’s communique reports the destruction of the enemy 'garrison at Enogai Inlet. These enemy troops 1 were pushed inland a few days ago, but fierce fighting occurred before they were wiped out.

AGAIN BOMBED CAMP AND OTHER AREAS ON KISKA. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) 4 RUGBY, July 13. Another attack on Kiska is reported in a United States communique: "In the North Pacific on. Monday,” it states, "Liberators and Mitchells escorted by Venturas, carried out three attacks on Japanese installations at North Head and the main camp areas of Kiska. Poor weather conditions precluded observation of the results of the bombing.” HELENA’S GALLANT END AFTER SINKING THREE ENEMY SHIPS. NEW YORK, July 13. The cruiser Helena, the sole American casualty in the first battle of Kula Gulf on July 6, perished gallantly, sinking two Japonese cruisers and one destroyer, and damaging a third cruiser. Blinded by flashes of their own guns, the crew of the Helena did not see the wake of the torpedoes which sank their ship. Captain Charles Cecil, commander of the Helena, told war correspondents in the Solomons how the American ships participating. in the Kula victory opened fire simultaneously “as though a master key had been used for all the main batteries.” He added: “The Helena seemed keyed up for her last fight. I have never seen anything like our volume of fire. We seemed to pour out shells like water from a hose.” Survivors from the Helena reached shore 15 hours after the sinking. Captain Cecil spent five hours in the water before he was hauled aboard a raft. He has been 31 years in the American Navy, and has commanded the destroyer Porter, which was sunk in the battle of Santa Cruz last October.