Evening star., 1942-08-26
Japs Rus h Aid to SoIomons Fleet.
Great StaIingrad Fires Reported
After Pounding by Nazi Aircraft
M'Arthur's Planes
Smash at Convoy
Headed for Isles
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
The battle of the Solomons ap-
parently was raging with in
creased fury and in a widening
area today as the japanese
rushed reinforcements for a
huge armada seeking to recap
ture American-held shore bases.
Locked in thunderous sea and air
engagements which may possibly de-
termine naval supremacy of the Pa
ciflc, American forces inflicted Sc
we're damage on enemy warships and
planes in the southeastern group of
the Solomons while about $50 miles
west Allied planes from Gen.
Douglas MacArthur's headquarters
smashed at an eastbound japanese
convoy.
The entire picture of the spread
ing conflict was far from complete,
but scattered reports from the Navy
here and from Gen.. MacArthur's
Australian headquarters made it
clear that Japan was risking a heavy
portion of its fleet in a desperate
effort to dislodge American marines
from their hard-won positions in
the Solomons.
The counterattack, fully expected
by the Navy, already has brought
bombing or torpedoing of more than
a half dozen Japanese ships in the
Solomons plus the strafing of two
transports and destruction of a gun
boat of Southeastern New Guinea.
No Reports on U. S. Losses.
The damaged vessels included one
large and one small aircraft carrier.
Only eight carriers were known to
have been part of the enemy fleet
before Pearl Harbor, although 9TH
ers undoubtedly have been added
secretly. Six Japanese carriers were
sunk in previous actions, including
four in the Midway battle, one prob
ably destroyed and three others
damaged there and off the Aleutian
Islands.
Additional punishment in the
Solomons battle was inflicted by
Allied carrier-based planes on
Japanese battleship and several
cruisers. United States aircraft left
another enemy cruiser and trans
port in flames.
Thus far there have been no re-
ports on the extent of American
losses beyond the minor damage
suffered at the opening of the con-
f1ict on August %. That day 81 jap
anese planes were listed as destroyed
in an attack on Guadalcanal Island.
Approximately $50 miles west of
the convoy action, Gen. Macarthur
reported destruction of 13 grounded
japanese planes and silencing of an
anti-aircraft battery in two sur
prise attacks on Buna, on the south
eastern New Guinea mainland.
Southwark, Allied fighters claimed
destruction OF several beached Jap
anese barges and supplies, and at
Japan's large New Britain bases at
Rabaul and Gasmata, northwest of
the Solomons, tons of explosives
were dropped by bombers.
U. 5. Cruiser Sinking Claimed.
The German news agency DNB,
quoted in German broadcast today,
said that a United States heavy
cruiser had been sunk in the battle
of the Solomon Islands and that one
Japanese cruiser had been set afire
but was "still fighting"
IT this report refers to the latest
Solomon Islands fighting, 1t is with
out confirmation. No date was given,
however, SO that the German agency
might be going back to the earlier
Solomon Islands engagement to re-
port a loss which the United States
announced on August 10.
DNB said the japanese attacked
the American squadron with SUI
perior air and naval forces and that
attacks by low-level japanese bomb
ers induced the American COM
mander to abandon his line of battle
and continue it with independent
units"
The agency said the japanese
were continuously receiving aerial
reinforcements.
The Japanese today presented
their version of their raid Sunday
on Darwin, Northern Australia.
The Toxic radio broadcast
Domei report that the japanese
fighters and bombers shot down IA
American-made fighter planes at
cost to themselves of only two air.
craft.
The facts as announced in
communique Monday from Gen.
MacArthur's headquarters were that
the Allies suffered no loss whatso-
ever, while shooting down four
bombers and nine fighters out of the