Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-03
GhormIey, Back in
Capital, Reveals
Sea Successes
1y the Associated Press.

By the ASSOclACeo Press
The sinking of two additional
Japanese cruisers and destroyer
in the South Pacific was re-
ported today by Secretary of the
Navy Knox, who coupled with
the news an admonition against
growing too optimistic" about
the Solomons campaign.
ut is still a bitter, tough fight"
he told his press conference. They
(the Japanese) have fleet Of
formidable proportions left. We
haven't any doubt they'll come
back"
Secretary Knox's, report of sinking
two more enemy cruisers was based
on late information from Vice Ad-
miral Robert L. Ghormley, now back
from his former command as chief
Of naval operations In the South
Pacific.
Three Cruisers Sunk.
Admiral Ghormley's account of
the battle off Savo Island the night
of october Hip, Mr.. Knox said,
listed five enemy destroyers and
three cruisers as sunk.
(This engagement was de-
scribed at Pearl Harbor yesterday
by Capt. Ernest G.. Small as "a
hell of a melee" which COM
pletely surprised the enemy.
After the fight, he said, the bat
tie area became just a field of
burning ships" An interview with
Capt. Small appears on Page A-2)
The Navy communlque on that
engagement had reported only one
enemy cruiser sunk, plus four de-
stroyers and transport. Admiral
Ghormley's report thus added two
cruisers and one destroyer to the
toll taken of the enemy.
Secretary Knox said the additional
damage reported by Admiral
Ghormley was an example of "the
ultra conservatism of the Navy in
reporting damage to the enemy.
Expects Japs to Return.
In speaking out against optimism
springing from the severe damage
inflicted on the Japanese fleet in
the Solomons. Secretary Knox said:
There is no warrant for the opti-
mism. It is still bitter, tough fight.
They have a fleet of formidable
proportions left. We haven't any
doubt they'll come back. 1t is dan
gerous to assume they won't be back
and any assumption that this is all
there will be of the operation Is un-
warranted.
Il don't want to build up optimism
that will be punctured later by
desperate hard fight which lies
ahead"
The Senator also declared he was
particularly proud" of the Nays
submarines, saying the submarine
service generally had done a par
ticularly amazing and outstanding
job.
War of Attrition.
"This is primarily a war of attri-
tion," he continued, land there is no
arm of the service more important
in war. of attrition than the sub
marines"
He added that he believed the
United States had developed the
best type of submarines afloat" and
said their successful offensive &C
ton, "justifies that belief
Asked about the new assignment
to be given Admiral Ghormley, who
has been succeeded by Vice Admiral
William F. Halsey, Secretary Knox
said he had told Admiral Gnormley
that he should get good rest be-
cause he had been under terrific
strain out there"
Meanwhile. the American drive to
squeeze the Japanese out of Guadal-
canal appeared under way as ma
rines, supported by tempestuous
aerial assault, pressed the enemy
farther away from the islands hot
ly contested Henderson Airfleld.
A Japanese retreat, announced by
the Navy yesterday, carried the Nip
ponese back as much as two miles in
one sector while Flying Fortresses
dive bompers and American fighter
planes blasted and strafed enemy
positions throughout the area.
Thus within a week the fortunes
Of war had changed the threat of a
gathering Japanese naval and land
offensive in the Southwestern Pacific
to strengthened American DONNA
ton over the Solomon Islands prize
Additional ground gains also were
reported last night for the Allied
forces in New Guinea Kokoda
Japanese base on the trail from