The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-10-14

ginning to end" he said.
 'aThe enemy force of several crris- CTS, and probably also some destroy CTS, entered the Guadalcanal Chan nel from the northwest, between Savo and the northern tip of Guad- alcanal.
 'aThe Japanese ships were chal- lenged by the Canberra's southern screening force, the Quincy's north ern screening force was on the other side of the island. Both were protecting the transports and supply ships unloading at Lunga Point on GuadalCanal.
 'sThe Japanese fought through the Canberra's force and rounded the southern tip of Savo, racing at about 25 knots.
 we opened fire. At about the same second the Japanese search lights got us, and silhouetted us. They changed course and passed un- der the stern of our formation, heading northward and closing range rapidly.
 Transports Saved
 T believe we saved the transports by prompt firing. The Japanese apparently sent 8 small force in to Eget in fast, do as. much damage as possible to the convoy, and get out again.
 "They opened fire as soon as their searchlights picked us out, and their shells started hitting. It soon be- came a pitched battle. The Japan csc went by at high speed at close range, 2,O00 to 5000 yards. We were firing at them with all we had. We did not know what damage we did but we could see the search lights go out when we made hit.
 '"The enemy ships were firing furi- ously. They lit. us up with airplane flares and searchlights and we were using star shells.
 "An enemy shell hit Us. The guns raked us and we got two or three
 torpedoes. Our captain, Captain Samuel N. Moore, was killed in the height of the action. A Salvo of ap- parently small caliber shells landed on the bridge. They killed nearly everybody at or around the coming station.
 s@Then flames wrapped themselves
 around my control station. We could see the flames through every port hole. We could hardly breathe. we thought we would be burned to death but the gire subsided.
 Tt was curious. could see the shells coming at me. I never had
 realized that that was possible. It
 is quite an experience to see shells
 converging on you. :.
 'sThen men below decks could
 hardly tell the difference between
 our guns and the Japanese guns. T Was . Short Fight
 'Tt was short fight. We were un-
 der fire about half an hour before
 the Japanese passed us on the star
 board side, going north, and slipped away in the darkness. We had warded oil their attempt to attack
 the convoy.
 "Even after the Japs disappeared I did not realize how badly we were hit. I left the foretop and went down. Then I saw several lfires burning. Several of our broad side guns were out and there were a lot of dead and wounded men on the deck.
 T arrived on the gun deck to finc , it level with the water on the port , side. It was listing to port about
 six or seven degrees. Then 1t began to list rapidly.
 About the time the water go' well up on the gun deck we began 7 to cut loose the life rafts and ths
 floats, and the five-inch ammuni. } ton boxes and anything else that would float.
 , T was the senior officer in my vicinity and I directed the opera ton. When the water was well uY
 ordered the men in my vicinit.
 to abandon ship. They jumped overheard without confusion and
 followed them.
 When I got about 50 yards iron the ship, floating, I watched he list. She went over to 90 degree , to port. Her bow slid under ana her stern rose. She slid undel while people were stin walking down her side. Some jumped iron the stern.
 T0rpedoes Ended It . T believe the torpedoes finished ! her.
 . "Our men acted as they wer ! trained to do. There was no undu
 excitement. It was like target prac tice for the men who fired the guns They had job to do and they dit , 1t.
 "It was still dark when we aban doned ship. A great number of Tiff
 rafts had been cut loose, I icoult see the people gathered on them
 Then several of them would ti