Evening star., 1942-11-28
Opening BottIeship SoIvos
Made Direct Hits on Jops

ABOARD A UNITED STATES
BATTLESH1P IN THE SOUTH
PACIFIC, Nov. 18 Delayed -
Opening salvos of two United States
battleships scored direct hits on the
surprised Japanese fleet from a dis
tance of about miles in the historic
naval battle off Savo Island the
night of November 14-15.
The action was related today by
the communications officer on "uIl-
Identified ship. which participated
in the mighty blow which sank one
Jap battleship or heavy cruiser,
three heavy cruisers and at least
two JAP destroyers in addition to
several ships damaged. Here Is his
story:
"On the morning Of the 14th we
received reports of heavy Jap
bombardment of Guadalcanal. Our
first job was to get there. We were
too late. That day we milled out
of sight of the Japs. We received
news that two large groups of Jap
transports with escorts were on the
way to Guadalcanal. One group
consisted of two battleships, one
heavy cruiser, two light cruisers and
about six destroyers.
Engage and Destroy"
"Orders were given to us engage
and dstroy Jap transports which
were crippled by air attacks during
the day
About pm. we made our first
definite change of course to Savo
Island. At sunset, about 7:46 pm,
we went into battle stations. An
announcement of our task and
known disposition of the enemy
was made to the men in keeping
with our normal policy of keeping
our men intelhgently informed.
When that news was delivered the
men we're asked Men, what is your
answer?' Every man responded
Yea!
"a captain Of Marines said over
the speaker system, the Marines
are ready to give them hell any
time
Our best record of going into
general quarters, was bettered by
one and one-half minutes. The
men were out to break records.
This was the chance we wanted.
Shortly after 9 o'clock we saw
fires which appeared to be explo-
sions to the northwest, about 80 to
40 miles west of the Russell Islands.
1t is my belief that the Japs were
either firing upon their own units or
that they were dispatching their
own admaged ships to the ocean
floor.
Tension on Ships Increased.
"As We approached Savo Island
the tension of our ships increased
Our men began seeing things that
were not there. Innumerable false
| reports were received. Rocks looked
like ships and shadows like subma-
rines. The men were straining to get
a Jap target.
"As We came around at HIS pm
we passed over the spot where the
cruisers Astoria, Vincennes and
Quincy had been sunk August g.
This word was passed to all hands
Our men were even more determined
to get the -.
There was quarter moon, the
sky was overcast about 60 to 10 per
cent. The water was nice and
smooth. perfectly calm.
"At 1850 am. I sighted what !
first suspected to be the enemy. My
eyesight is unusually good at night.
Right after that others saw three
ships.
1--WE received orders. Commence
firing when ready
Direct Hit on First Salvo.
"Our first ships first salvo set her
target on fire. 1t was a direct hit.
Within Is to 20 seconds our tar
get was lined up. We also got q hit
on our first salvo. I could see fires
start.
"The Jap fire started after we got
off three salvos.
81 counted at least six and Dos
sibly eight Jap ships returning the
fire.
"After firing several minutes. our
ships saw two large explosions neal
Savo Island and silhouetted against
them were two large ships, either
heavy cruisers or battleships, about
$4,000 to $4,000 yards away.
This engagement lasted about
n "a