Evening star., 1943-05-04
pSupp|y
Repe||edinFight
In AIeutians
U. S. Forces Occupy
Russell Islands, OFF
Tip Of Guodolcono!
BULLETIN.

The Navy reported today
that United States submarines
had sunk six Japanese ships,
including two destroyers, and
probably sunk a seventh dur
ing operations in the Pacific.
By the Associated Press.
An American light naval force,
outnumbered 2 to /, repelled a
Japanese supply expedition west
of the Aleutian Islands March
26, the Navy reported today, and
damaged at least two enemy
heavy cruisers and one light
cruiser.
Earlier the Navy announced that
American forces, extending their
hold on the Solomon Islands, had
occupied the Russell Islands, which
lie Immediately northwest of Quad
alcanal.
The Navy said American ships
suffered only minor damage and
casualties to personnel were ex-
tremely light in the Aleutian battle,
which had been disclosed previously.
The battle started shortly after
dawn and lasted three and a half
hours. 1t ended when daring de-
stroyers made torpedo attack on
the Japanese and the enemy with
drew.
There was no doubt among au-
thorities here that the aim of the
Japanese force was to land supplies
and possibly reinforcements on their
bases in the Aleutians, Kiska and
Attu
Ships Not Heard From Since.
That they did not succeed in this
endeavor, even though the American
surface craft lost track of them,
was indicated by the fact that sub
sequent reports have not told of the
presence of any of these ships at
either Kiska or Attu.
This was the first report of the
operation of American warships In
the Bering Sea as far west as the
vicinity Of Russia's Komandorski
Islands.
Outp0sts for Guadalcanal.
Navy spokesmen refused comment
on the Russell Islands operation,
which was carried out in February
after enemy resistance ceased on
Guaralcanal, but presumably the
Russell bases serve as outposts for
American positions on that occupied
island.
Following is the communique giv-
ing details of the naval battle:
North Pacific:
IL. Announcement may now be
made of additional details of the
surface engagement between a light
United States patrol force and
japanese force to westward at Attu
Island on March 26. 1943 previously
reported in Navy Department COM
munique number 32D.
%. The United States force, con-
sisting of one heavy cruiser, one
light cruiser and four destroyers,
was patrolling in the area to the
southeast of the Komandorski Is
lands when contact was made with
the enemy shortly after dawn on
the 26th. The Japanese force was
composed of two heavy cruisers, two
light cruisers, six destroyers and
two transports, and was headed
eastward toward the Aleutians.
81 Hour Engagement.
"3. Firing was opened at long
range and the engagement contin-
ued for three and one-half hours.
Hits were scored on both sides. At
the start of the engagement the en-
emy force was to the eastward OF
the United States force, and in the
maneuvering to reverse positions,
three of the United States Destroy
ers launched torpedo attack which
caused the enemy to break of the
engagement and withdraw.
a. Extent of the damage inflicted
on the enemy vessels is not definitely
known, but shell hits we're scored on
both Of the Japanese heavy cruisers
and on one of the light cruisers. At
least one torpedo hit was scored on
heavy cruiser. Minor damage was
sustained by United States vessels
and casualties to personnel were
extremely light"
The communique on this action:
South Pacific (all dates east
longitude):
Il. United States forces are estab-
lished on the RUSSELL Islands north
west of Guadaltanal These islands
were occupied without opposition in