The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-11-04

manship saved her from harm.
japanese 6-inch short batteries or
Koh Point left the fury of the
Helenas guns on the morning o.
November 4, 1912, when the Jap.
opened up on United States trans
ports landing fresh troops at Qua
dalcanal
Sending her scouting planes aloft
the Helena steamed up to Kol
Point, turned her guns on the enemy
batteries let go. The short batter
les were silenced and large fire.
were started among the gun EN-
placements.
The Helena put in the busiest day
of her career on November II. 1912
beginning at dawn when japanese
shore batteries near the mouth o,
the kokumbona river opened fire
on transports unloading more Unit
ed States troops at Guadalcanal.
The Helena was again called into
action, and again she poured hun.
dreds of shells into japanese posi-
tons. The enemy guns were knocked
out
Still hoping to prevent mas,
landing of new United States forces
the japanese sent in three flight.
of torpedo bombers, escorted b,
Zero fighters. to attack the trans,
ports that afternoon.
Nine enemy bombers were shoi
down by antiaircraft fire from the
United States ships, with four cred.
tied to the Helena. Twenty-one en-.
envy planes were downed by fight.
ers from Guadalcanal Only one was
seen to escape.
Three japanese planes got in close
enough to let go their torpedoes
but not hit was scored. One plane
crashed on the deck of a United
States ship.
The Battle of Guadalcanal was
begun that night. Thwarted time
and again in efforts to drive Ameri-
can ground forces from the area
the japanese chose the night OF
November 1918. 1912. to initiate a
desperate, about effort to regain
control of the Solomons. They
failed. They were turned back a
beaten and crushed foe, and one OF
the prime reasons they were beaten
and crushed was the punishment the
Helena and her sister ships dealt
the japanese in the opening round
The Helena was Me first to sight
the enemy force as ut neared Savo
Island. Holding their fire while
closing the range, the United States
craft moved steadily toward their
unsuspectlng foe and steamed be-
tween the enemy's two flanks be-
fore the japanese detected their
presence.
A cruiser stabbed the darkness
with her searchlight, found the Hell
ena and opened fire.
The Helena's main batter, mean
while had been trained on the same
cruiser. and had gotten the range.
The Helena, as in the Battle Of
Cape Esperance, was the first Unit
ed States ship to fire.
A full Salvo burst from her guns
and struck home. The japanese
cruiser, heavy one bearing g.
inch guns burst into flames, light
ing the entire area and enabling the
United States destroyers to race
in and launch torpedoes at the en-
envy force.
Rapid, continuous fire was main
tanned on the enemy cruiser. Practic-
ally all of the shots appeared to
score hits. Flames ragged forward
and amidships and the cruiser be-
gan to sink
The Helena's main battery subsid-
ed, bur the secondary battery, which
had selected a destroyer, pounded
its target and hammered it into the
sea
The Helena had claimed two vic
Tins.
Fifteen minutes after the enemy
was engaged, the Helena observed
six enemy ships on her starboard
hand fleeing northWard, retreating
from the battle.
One of the enemy vessels, a cruis-
er, was hurting shells at the San
Francisco, which it was learned lat
er had damaged a japanese bat
tleship in fierce smuggling match
and had herself been damaged, one
Of the enemy's salvos killing, among
others, Rear Admiral Daniel j. Cal
laghan, y. S. ~, Task Force com
mander, and Captain Cassin Young
U. S. NJ, the San Franciscos skip
per-
The Helena's main battery open
ed fire on this cruiser. 1t was sunk
The secondary battery trained on {
destroyer in the six-ship formation
sinking it, Four ships down.
A japanese ship passed the Hell
ena on diverging course while the
main and secondary batteries were
engaged in sinking the cruiser anc
destroyer, and the Helena's lighter
guns pumped shells into the craft.
bridge
The guns of the Helena were 81
lent while she cleared severa
friendly vessels and then they open
ed fire on another ship among thu
retreating Japanese vessels. TIL,
target was set afire.
The secondary battery then scored
hits on Japanese destroyer ant
its target was soon on fire.
Remnants of the battered Jap
anese force fled northward, som,
actually firing at each other in con
fusion as they retreated. WheI