Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-13
-Four Japanese
Vessels Sunk
By u. S. Navy
KuIo Gulf Action
Combined'With Land
Nnd Air Operations

By the Associated Press.
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN
THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC,
July ia Japanese cruiser
and three destroyers were sent
to the bottom of the Kula Gulf
graveyard of at least nine other
enemy warships-by guns OF the
United States Navy in battle
which began last night.
Two other enemy destroyers prob
ably were sunk and enemy losses
may be even greater when all re-
ports are in. The battle still was
in progress, it was indicated, at
the time preliminary reports were
received today by Gen. Douglas
Macarthur from Admiral william
F. Halsey.
GA Japanese communique
broadcast by the Toxic radio to-
day reported that a flotilla of
Japanese destroyers had sunk
two American cruisers and set
another afire north Of Kolom-
bangara Island last night.
One Japanese cruiser was dam
aged, said the broadcast, which
was recorded by the Associated
Press
But already Japan has expended
between Is and II cruisers and
destroyers in two battles in the
Central Solomons while trying tn
hold apart the jaws Of a mantrap
which American jungle fighters are
clamping on the enemy air base of
Munda, on New Georgia Island.
Both battles in the Kula Gulf
which is Is miles long and miles
across at Its widest part, occurred
as units OF the Japanese Navy, NOV
ing down from the Northern Solo
mons. encountered American war
vessels blockading New Georgia S
coast line along the gulf. In the
first battle July SIS loss of the
cruiser U. S. S. Helena was acknowl-
edged. Available reports on the Sec
ond battle mentioned no American
losses.
Today's account from Gen. Mac
Arthur showed Japan everywhere
losing the fight for Munda-on New
Georgia, in the air above 1t and in
the seas ohshore.
Ground Force Wiped Out.
Ten miles northeast of Munda, q
japanese ground force of consider
able strength was trapped at Enogai
Inlet and wiped out. Munda has
been cut of from its supply port on
the Kula Gulf by a barricade bris-
Ting with guns thrown across the
connecting jungle track. East OF
Munda, American jungle fighters are
less than miles away.
American warplanes pounded anew
yesterday at Munda; at its supply
depot across the Kula Gulf at villa
on Kolombangara Island; at its
source Of air support in the North.
ern Solomons, Kahili airdrome or
Bougainville Island: and at the
nearest air base with several fields
Rabaul, on New Britain.
Ohshore, American warships fol
the second time in less than a week
pumped shells under cover OF dark.
ness on Munda, whose seizure woulc
put American invasion forces within
fighter plane range of Rabaul.
Batteries Blasted.
1t was in daylight yesterday fol.
lowing this Smelling that Avengel
torpedo bombers and Dauntless dive.
bombers added their bombloads tx
the 1879 tons dropped on Munds
the three previous days. Softenine
Munda for American ground forces
the raiders blasted the enemy.
troop camps and antiaircraft bat.
terics.
Twenty Japanese Zeros came ovel
Munda, in sector where the enemy
has lost some 200 planes since the
Pacific drive opened June 30, ane
were driven of with a loss of five
against one American plane. Across
from Munda on Rendova Island
where the Americans have artillery
Smelling the air base, six United
States planes were lost while q
japanese bomber, two Zeros and q
twin-engined fighter were being
shot down in a series Of air fights
Three Of our pilots were saved.
Over Rabaul, an air and shipping
fortress Of the enemy which may be
the ultimate objective Of the present
Pacific drive of the Allies in the
Solomons and New Guinea, Ameri-
can Liberators cruised for nearly
(ses PACIFIC. Page A-6o