The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-08-20
General MacArthur
 Sent His Fortresses
tcontlnued from Page D

Or cf the Solomon Islands. our heavy bombeFs attacked enemy Earships with unknown results" the Announcement from MacArthur's Headquarters said. Heavy anti-air- craft fire was encountered but all sur planes returned to their base"
 It was understood here that the mnemy naval force was made up of small warships encountered of the e0ast of Faisi Island, but there was no indication Of whether they were enroute to or returning from the Battle area.
 It was the first time in more than @ week that MacArthur's giant land based bombers had intervened di- eectly in the Solomons battle. When American Air Corps units in Aus tralia shifted their attacks to outly- Ing Japanese bases and shipping concentrations, 1t had been taken 10 mean that the marines under the Operational command of Vice Ad- miral Robert Lee Ghormley, in charge of the Solomons attack, had hacked out fields for their own planes.
 No Further News
 There was no further news here today of the progress of fighting on the islandS-believedly six-where landings have been thoroughly es- tabIshed. MacArthur's communi- Cue,, however, announced new low altitude attacks by Hudson medium bombers on an enemy-held town in northwestern Timor, where Japan csc forces are known to have as- gembled which might either go to the relief of the Solomons or launch powerful diversional thrust against Australia itself.
 The same communique announc- ed the sinking in the initial phase of the Solomons battle of the Aus tralian flagship Canbera, a 9,850- ton heavy cruiser with eight-inch guns.
 It was the first definite news of Solomons losses, although the U. s. navy previously had announced the sinking of 8 cruiser in the Allied forces under Ghormley. The con- Rnlniq ae did not give the date of the Canberra's loss, nor was there any indication of whether it had been sunk by surface ships, subma- rine ships, or planes. An Allied screen of cruisers and destroyers is known to have slashed with Jap anese naval units two days after operations began.
 Listed as casualties were 193 off, cers and men of the Canberra's complement of 816 including at least two Americans. The Canberra's commander, Capt. Frank Edmund of Sydney, Australia's presentative on the southwestern Pacific naval command of U. s. Vice-Admiral Herbert P. Leary, was one of the 10 known to have died of wounds. Another 75 were listed as missing and believed dead, while 109 were wounded.
 It was understood some of the survivors had been landed at Aus tralian ports. The casualties were considered few in proportion to the ships complement. They included 20 officers, half of them wounded.
 Americans Lost
 The Americans among the casual ties were Ensign J. w. Vance, miss ing, believed killed, and third-class signalman Gary, wounded. Their home towns were not available.
 MacArthur's complete communi- que said:
 with profound regret Gen. Mac Arthur announces the loss of the Australian cruiser Canberra, which was sunk in battle off the coast of the Solomon Islands, while tempor- arily serving in the forces command ed by Vice Admiral Ghormley The greater part of the officers and crew were rescued. Its heroic commander was mortally wounded, and died. The families of those lost have been notified. The traditions of Australia know no greater glory than this dead ship.
 Tn the northwestern sector of Timor, our medium bombers at- tackled an enemy occupied town from low altitude. Results were not observed.
 Tn the northeastern (FaisD sec