Evening star., 1942-08-25
; Carried 600 Off1cers, Men.

THE action continues.
Carried 900 Offlcers, Men.
: The Ryuzyo, which was described
Us severely damaged, carries a COM
plement Of 600 ofIicers and men. ac-
cording to description in James
Fighting Ships, 1941 edition
Although the Navy did not reveal
from what base or bases the Japa-
nese approached, it was thought by
some observers that the striking /
force might have come from, the
Truk Islands. group. in the Caro-
lines. These islands were formerly
owned by Germany and were placed
under japanese mandate at the
close Of the First World War. The
islands are roughly 1000 miles from
the Tulagi area. in the general di-
tection Of Japan proper. tau
American marines made landings
In the islands Of Tulagi August 7
and after several days and nights
OF intensive fighting occupied sew
eral portions Of the islands. Today's
eommunique, which mentioned "our
occupa ton of the important enemy
base at Tulagi," was the nearest to
IN admission that We had definite
control over the area. The Tulagi
harbor is an important and much
sought-for anchorage.
- Hit in Vulnerable Spot.
y While the course of the battle
for victory or defeat could not
he judged in the absence of infor-
nation about damage to American
limits, preliminary estimates here
were that the Japanese were being
hit hard where they could be hurt
most, In their aircraft carrier
strength.
up to today the Navy had claimed
SIX carriers sunk, including all Of
1Iapan's biggest-type floating air
fields, one probably sunk and two
damaged. Today's report raised the
total OF damaged to four. In addi-
ton the Army reported some time
ago having dropped torpedo on
the deck Of carrier in the Aleu-
tians area.
The naval-air action resulting
from the japanese counterattack Is
the second heavy engagement to
occur in the Solomons and appar-
emily is Of fiercer nature than the
s6Fst.
The first occurred on the night
OF August 80 when an enemy force
of cruisers and destroyers attempted
to attack the American transport.
and cargo ships landing the marine
occupation forces. The enem,
war vessels were intercepted by al
American screening force of cruiser
Ghd destroyers and heavy flghtini
tnsued at close range. Both side
suffered damage-the extent of in
ttiry inflicted on the enemy bein
Undetermined in the darkness-bu
The final victory then fell to tn
Americans because the enemy re
Treated before reaching the vessel
engaged in landing operations.
THE text of today's communion
follows:
South Pacific.
~. United States naval and al
forces are engaged in a large-scal
battle at sea in an attempt t
fepel a strong Japanese strikin
force which has approached tn
southeastern group of the Solomo
Islands from the northeastward.
, -. 1t was expected that our occu
patton OF the important enemy bas
&C Tulagi would be countered by
violent attempt on the part of tn
enemy to recapture their shore base
III. this area. This counter-attac
has developed and is now being me
3. Preliminary reports indicat
that the enemy striking force hi
been attacked by United Stat,
Army Flying Fortresses' and th'
our carrier-based naval aircraft al
IN action.
esa"4. Army bombers attacked a lari
Japanese carrier and reported TO,
hts. United States carrier aircra
attacked and severely damaged Il
spaAer Japanese carrier Ryuzy
Ssyeral enemy cruisers and ba
tleship also have been hit by o.
Carrier planes,
!, rs. During the afternoon of Al
gust % washington date) strol
ehemy air attack on Quadalcan
Island was intercepted by our flgh
ers and at least 81 enemy aircra