Evening star., 1943-11-06

But here is what David Lawrence
happened:
/. An American naval task force
protected the landings of our Ma
rines on Bougainville Island and
bombarded the coast defenses.
2. Having landed their forces sue
cessfully, the Navy turned north
ward to meet japanese task force
whose presence had been detected
by airplane reconnaissance. All was
in readiness to meet the japanese
naval units
3. The japanese came down the
coast without interference by any
American air force and were engaged
early last Tuesday in a three hour
battle in the thick Of night 1t was
an old-fashioned naval slugging
match, from which we emerged vic
torious and the japanese feet turned
in flight, leaving at least one cruiser
and four destroyers sunk and other
units badly damaged.
4. At dawn. the japanese sent dive
hombers to attack our naval units.
which we're only slightly damaged
None of our ships was lost in either
the sea or air battle.
). The fleeing japanese warShips
got to Rabaul Harbor in time to
suffer a most devastating blow by
1t. General Kenney'S air force oper-
atlng under Gen. MacArthurs COM
mand, Three destroyers were sunk.
and damage was done to other units
Of the Japanese naval force, includ-
ing at least one heavy cruiser.
Big Battles at Night.
Those extremists who have been
willing to abolish naVieS. so to speak.
and let the war depend on air force
alone have not vet been able to
abolish the night hours of the clock.
Air power, except in rare cases. is
unable TO do any fighting at night
in naval actions in the open sea and
that is why most of the important
naval battles in the Southwest Pa
clflc thus far have been fought at
nighttime. The japanese last wear
sank three OF our cruiSers-the Vim
cennes, the Quincy and the Astoria
AS well as the Australian cruiser
Canberra in night action near
Guadalcanal, and one of the most
decisive battles for the possession of
the Solomons, which we won in No.
vember, 1912. was also night en-
eagement.
Air power can detect the approach
OF enemy vessels If air bases are
available or If air carriers are ar
hand, but the actual landing opera
tions and the ability of an army to
Keep possession of ports where
troops have been landed depends on
sea power.
In the battle off Bougamville this
week We apparently did not have
Air bases near enough to send up
planes TO prevent the japanese
feet from coming down to threaten
our brldgeheadS or to take anv toll
Of the approaching japanese units
after We had successfully landed
our Marines. If We possessed air
craft carriers in sufficient quantity
to assist every task force, the story
might have been different. but even
the aircraft carriers would have
been Of little avail during night
action.
Adequate Sea Power
The steady progress of the Ameri-
ran armed forces in the Solomons
area has been due to the presence
Of adequate sea power. which since
wear ago has kept the japanese
from landing reinforcements in suf-
fcient number to threaten our
holdings or to stop our offensives.
But the presence of air power in
Gen. MacArthur's area. on the other
hand, has certainly dealt successive
blows at japanese shipping and
thus prevented the japanese from
developing their air attacks in suf-
flclent strength 10 destroy our ships
or weaken our positions in the Solo
mon Islands.
Apparently Gen. Macarthur and
Admiral HalSey work we'll together.
for, despite the unfavorable flying
weather, the orders went forth from
Gen. MacArthurs Headquarters to
make the raid on Rabaul at mo-
ment when it would benefit the
American Navy. First reports
which came from the Macarthur
headquarters didn't tell much about
the naval engagement. but this pre-
sumably was due to desire to let
our ships get back to their bases as
Is customary. because it is consid-
cred hazardous to use the radio for
reports while at sea especially after
an engagement, lest submarines de-
-