Evening star., 1942-06-15
Quick Destruction Of jap Ships at Tu|oqi
Set Up Offensive for Coral Sea Victory

|Set up OTTenSI'
(This Is the third of ntne stories
supplied to the Associated Press
By the Chicago Tribune. whose
correspondent, Stanley Johnston.
tpds the only American reporter
aboard the aircraft carrier LeI-
ington In the Coral Sea bdttle.)
By STANLEY JOHNSTON.
Foreisn Correspondent Of the Chicago
| Tribune.
CHICAGO, June Isl had long
believed the aircraft carrier was
superior to any other craft afioat as
q naval weapon, but not until had
seen the two carriers In our task
force in action In the developing
stages Of the epic battle Of the Coral
Sea did I understand how deadly
q modern aircraft carrier can be.
and how much superior to any other
type Of vessel 1t has become.
The demonstration was convinc-
ing one. For within q period Of II
hours our pilots, gunners, and car
rier crews. on the day Of May 4,
destroyed more warships, transports
and auxiliary vessels than ever be-
fore have been wrecked by airplanes
in q single sustained bombardment.
But that Is getting . bit ahead Of
my story.
We had been out of Pearl Harbor
for two weeks, cruising fast and on
q secret course that always kept us
out Of sight Of islands where un-
friendly eyes might mark our pass
ing, when we arrived in Coral Sea
waters. It was about April 80 that
we had first evidence that we were
In q battle area.
At that time, Of course, We did
not understand that the Japanese
had sent one strong carrier task
force to hold the Jomard Pass and
a second striking prong far eastward
around the Solomon Island group
to seize control Of the Coral Sea
waters. We only knew that they
were beginning TO take an interest
In Australia and We had heard that
an invasion fleet was heading
toward Port Moresby. on New
Guinea.
As we travelled the more than
5,000-mile, roundabout route toward
the Coral Sea, we had kept cur
airplane patrols out ahead of US.
And on May 2 two Of these scouts,
flying together. surprised q Jap sub
marine on the surface. They dived
on him and dropped three bombs.
Although the pilots believed the
sub was sunk. they could report only
that it submerged and . huge patch
Of fuel oil spread over the ocean
surface.
The next day our scouts reported
having seen Japanese "snooper"
planes at great distances. The
snoopers escaped by ducking into
the high cumulus clouds that were
scattered far and wide over this
ocean. The clouds are the sources
for the daily rainsqualls that are
typical Of the tropic Seas In this
season. These clouds are impor-
tant cover for all air fighters and
are constantly used by Japanese
and American flyers.
Crews Are Vigilant.
The clouds and the snooper planes
raised the vigilance of every one
in the flotilla. We got the dong,
dong-dong, dong-dong dong" Of
the gong accompanied by the long
trumpet call of battle stations"
several times daily. The combined
signal, most important one OF all
that goes out the ships loudspeaker
system, brings all other business to
q halt and every man-jack goes
to the station assigned him In bat
tie and prepare for that job. There's
not q man on board who hasn't
specific fighting job-even to the
mess stewards, who hand up am
munition for the anti-aircraft guns.
Most Of these alarms came after
the ship received radio calls from
the air scouts. spent hours IL the
radio room. listening to the CON-
versations between the scouts in
the air and between the scouts and
the ship. The pilots have evolved
q secret code, partially slang of
their own, for transmitting informa-
ton. They patroled in pairs, each
having girls name.
When possible. pilots would name
the type Of Japanese plane-Mitsu-
bishi. Nakajima, Kawanishi, the
latter a four-engined flying boat
used for long-range patrol, or
shopping" as the pilots say.
We were moving northwest, ap-
preaching the Solomons. the after
noon Of May 3 when q scout called
the carrier:
Jean to carrier. Contact. Con-
centration enemy shipping Tulagi
Harbor."
Tulagi Is the capital of the Solo
mon Islands. which are nominally
British territory. It is the one
good harbor Of the entire Solomon
group. Tulagi is on the southern
tip Of the island Of Florida, one Of
the smallest Of the Solomons, but
protected on the south by the larger,
mountainous island Of Guadalcanal
and on the northeast by Malaita.
All are rugged, with peaks that
climb to 5000 feet.
Head for the Enemy.
Our augmented task force had
been taken over by Rear Admiral
Frank j. Fletcher when we Joined
the second carrier, cruiser, destroyer
squadron. He made his headquart-
ers on the second carrier, which
must not name for reasons Of ma
tional security. The information
brought in by the scout pilots was
detailed to Admiral Fletcher and to
Admiral Fitch, who conferred
briefly.
High speed cruise" was the only
order passed out. The pilots on
both carriers rubbed their hands
with glee, however, because our
course, taken as dusk settled over
the OcAan was dl1o y,orfh Wa vyara