Evening star., 1942-09-16

BY CLAUDE A. MAHONEY.
The Navy announced today that
japanese bombs and torpedoes
sank the aircraft carrier York
town after the battle of Midway
IN June.
The department said destruction
of the ship apparently was not
known to the enemy and that the
knowledge was vitally linked to the
operations which have been in prog
ress in the South Pacific since early
August.
The Yorktown, of $4,000 tons dis
placement, was sistership OF the
Enterprise. It was put out of action
on June 4 and sank three days later
Casualties we're few, the Navy COM
munique said.
The Navy gave no figures on cas-
ualties, saying only that total losses
of the battle of Midway were 90
officers and 215 enlisted men and
that those lost on the Yorktown
were included in those totals.
Destroyer Also Lost.
The destroyer Hammann was
sunk at the same time, as it was
aiding the carrier. News of the
sinking of the Hammann was given
out shortly after it was lost,
The Yorktown first was success
fully attacked by enemy aircraft
with bombs and torpedoes on the
afternoon of June 4, after the bat
tie of Midway Island-a great
American victory-had reached its
full fury.
The vessel, which had normal
complement of IS planes and 2,072
men, developed a heavy list in the
initial attack and the crew Wss
forced to abandon ship in face of
imminent danger of the ships cap
sizing.
After tugs and other salvage yes
sells had been sent to her assist
ance and salvage party put aboard
she was taken in tow, presumably
toward Pearl Harbor. Progress was
necessarily slow. but it appeared
that the ship might be saved.
Two Torpedo Hits.
OF the tragedy which dispelled
this hope and sent the ship to the
bottom, the Navy said:
by the morning of June the
salvage party had been able to re-
duce the list and the prospects of
saving the ship appeared brighter.
The u. S. S. Hammann (destroyer)
was placed alongside to assist.
Shortly after noon on June 6 an en-
emy submarine scored two torpedo
hits amidship on the Yorktown and
two torpedo hits on the Hammann
alongside The Hammann sank
shortly thereafter and the condition
of the Yorktown became critical
The enemy submarine was attacked
by destroyers throughout the day.
Result of these attacks indicated
that the submarine was certainly
damaged and possible sunk.
During the early morning of
June the Yorktown capsized and
sank as the result of the cumulative
damage from aircraft bombs and
torpedoes on the 4th and submarines
on the 6th.".
Only Losses at Midway.
The Yorktown and the Hammann
were the only United States ships
lost at Midway while the japanese
had at least 10, including four air
craft carriers, sunk and at least 13
others, including three battleships,
damaged.
Today's announcement brings to
~ the number of Naval vessels of
all types lost by the United States
In this war. Lost of the Yorktown,
following loss of the Lexington,
leaves the United States with five
Of its original large type carriers
still in action.
The Yorktown was commanded by
Capt. Elliott Buckmaster of Colum-
bus, Ohio, who was among the
people saved, Comdr Arnold Els
worth True of Corinth, KY, COM
manded the Hammann. and he like
wise was among the survivors
Capt. Buckmaster, native of
Brooklyn, was executive officer of
the carrier Lexington from June,
(See YORKTOWN, Page A-3D