Evening star., 1942-08-14
Allied Planes Blast Jap Warships
Tryinq to Aid So|omons Garrisons;
Italians Routed by Malta Convoy
IS United Nations
Vessels Sunk,
okio Boasts
B, the Associated Press.

sr the Associated Press.
The battle of the Solomon Is
lands exploded over broadening
area of the South Seas today
with Allied bomberS blasting
away at japanese warships and
transports which apparently are
trying to reinforce garrisons
hurled out of three coastal areas
by United States Marines.
Allied flying fortresses and medium
bombers caught the enemy vessels
yesterday in New Guinea waters,
west of the Solomons, and drove
home three separate attacks, an AL
lied headquarters communique re-
ported in Australia. Bad weather
prevented the pilots from observing
the full extent of the damage.
Japs Claim IS Vessels.
In Toxic japanese imperial head
quarters claimed the sinking of Is
Allied warships and 10 transports,
but these figures were without con-
firmation from any source.
The Japanese compilation in
cluded 13 British and American
cruisers, nine destroyers and three
submarines. The communique said
that in addition one cruiser, three
destroyers and one transport were
severely damaged.
Slight damage to two Japanese
cruisers was admitted, but they re-
manned in commission, it was said
Twenty-one japanese planes were
said to have been lost in suicide
dives by their pilots onto their OBJ
jectives.
Allied Ships Listed.
The Allied vessels listed as sunk
were said to include United States
cruiser of the Wichita type 1924
tons, five United States cruisers of
the Astoria type 9,375-9,950 tons),
United States cruiser of the
Omaha type (7,050 tons, two Brit
ish cruisers of the Australian type
10000 tons, a British cruiser of the
Achilles type (7,030 tons, British
"A class" cruiser of undeterminable
category and two "B class" cruisers
of unascertainable type.
The destroyers, submarines and
transports reported sunk were not
identified as to nationality, nor were
the other vessels listed as damaged.
The communique said the Japa-
nese shot down 40 fighters and nine
fighter bombers.
A statement last Monday by Ad-
miral Ernest J. King, commander in
chief of all American naval opera
tions, reported the loss of one Amer
lean cruiser and the damaging of
two cruisers, two destroyers and one
transport.
Japanese defending forces at that
time were stated to have suffered a
large number" of planes destroyed
and surface units put out of action.
! The information then as to both
American and enemy losses was in
complete, the statement said.
Sunday Claims Increased.
The new Toxic statement both re-
vised and increased the claims made
in special japanese communique
last Sunday.
At that time it was asserted in
Toxic that the japanese Navy had
sunk one battleship of unknown
type, seven cruisers, four destroyers
and more than 10 transports and
had heavily damaged three cruisers,
at least two destroyers and more
than one transport" That COM
munique also stated that two of the
japanese cruisers had been damaged
but were able to continue fighting.
Domei explained that the un-
identified battleship reported sunk
In last Sundays communique had
been found to be cruiser of the
Achilles type and was so listed in
today's announcement
Land Fight News Meager.
News of the land fighting still
was meager as the battle of the
Solomons entered its second week
and Washington Navy communi-
que yesterday said only that opera
tions were continuing
Informed military sources in Aus
tralia characerized as largely guess
work press and radio reports eman-
ating from Australia purporting to
give specific details of the battle S
progress. From the first, Gen. Mac
Arthur and the Australians have
carefully avoided releasing informa
ton or commenting on the tide
lSee SOLOMONS, Page A-lsJ