Evening star., 1942-01-27
Bottle
Continued From First Page)
ing one of the enemy submarines,
Toxic headquarters said.
Battle Continuing.


Toxic headquarters said.
Battle Continuing.
The now-historic running battle
in Macassar Strait was continuing,
it was learned reliably, although the
Navy Department here was silent on
the details of operations as the ac-
ton moved into its fifth day.
1t was now evident that the Allies
had acquired two new advantages
in their methodical sea-and-sky
campaign of warship and transport
destruction in the straits shark-in.
tested waters.
The torpedo of an American sub
marine deprived the enemy Of the
only aircraft carrier believed oper-
ating with the once huge invasion
armada. The Navy last night listed
the carrier as probably sunk" but
even if she were kept afloat some
how her disabled condition would
immobilize her remaining planes.
both for offensive and vital scouting
missions.
The second advantage arose from
the Allied success in drastically re-
ducing the speed of the originally
slow-moving enemy armada. Mer-
ciless pounding has crippled num-
bers of its vessels, and a convoy is
tied to the speed of the hardest
hit ship-unless it sacrifices its cas-
ualties.
The Japanese convoy already has
spent more than four full days try
ing to negotiate the disastrous Ala
miles Of the Macassar Strata fact
that speaks volumes. And the slow
er a conveys pace, the easier prey
its ships make for fast-striking
warships and bombers or lurking
submarines.
To multiply the difficulties of the
enemy, January and February are
the worst weather months In the
strait, with rain, heavy squalls and
rough seas making navigation par
ticularly hazardous for shipping.
Type Carrier Not Identified
The torpedoing of the Japanese
air carrier was the first positive
evidence that the United Nations
had submarines operating in the
strait, but observers here had sus-
pected their presence as soon as the
Macassar sea engagement assumed
major proportions. They thought it
likely that the Allied high command
in the South Pacific would have its
pig-boats in position il case the
Japanese sought to rush heavy
naval reinforcements to the rescue
Of the luckless convoy.
The Navy Department commu1i-
que did not identify the type carrier
which the United States submarine
torpedoed. The Japanese carriers
are relatively small compared with
the larger American ships in that
category. They range from 7,100 to
26,90O tons, with the smaller ones
carrying about 30 planes and the
larger ones, between so and go.
Japan was credited with eight
carriers in service-some authorities
say nine-at the start Of the war,
and two under construction. The
United States strength then was
7 built and II building.
Although the main theater Of
United States naval operations was
obviously in Macassar Strait at the
moment, Admiral Thomas c. Hart
was getting in blows elsewhere with
units Of the Asiatic Fleet to keep
the enemy occupied.
The Navy Department disclosed
late yesterday that the fleets mile
a-minute mosquito torpedo boats
had paid q return visit to Subic Bay
on Luzon Island In the Philippines
and sunk their second 5,000-ton
enemy ship in those waters. The
first was sent to the bottom in a
daring raid on the same harbor last
week.