Evening star., 1943-07-09
81 the Associated Press.


ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN
AUSTRALIA, July 9.-The 9,700-ton
United States cruiser Helena had
just turned her guns on a japanese
destroyer and watched it go up in a
binding flash in the Kula Gulf
when something hit her." but more
than 600 aboard the Helena were
saved from the oil-covered waters,
war correspondents reported today
from the South Pacific.
The Helena was the only
American warship lost in the
naval battle fought in the pre-
dawn darkness TUESDAY,, earlier
dispatches h9ve reported, egsinst
inc certain loss OF nine japanese
cruisers sno de5uovers. The
numner OF Beisna survisoiS
never mas been stated. a cruiser
CT her type normally carries be-
tween TOO and 300 men)
The story of the cruisers de-
struction as related by Alan Jack
son, a photographer for Internation-
al News Photo, who was aboard her,
was sent to Australia by Osmar
White, Australian correspondent
Mr.. White estimated the number of
survivors rescued at 800.
Warned OF Action.
MI. Jackson S story follows.
We were told early in the eve
ming we we're going 10 interrepr
the 1oSio express tnicxus one tirst
aopned 10 Japanese snip3 supplying
Guadalcanal forces and in this case
ships above New Georgia Island
presumably bringing aid to the
Munda air base) and to expect ac-
ton ct midnight.
II went flying to the bridge. Ap-
proximately at 1:30 am. (July 81,
targets were reported.
[ eve closed and the whole force
opened a terrific salvo. After
minutes of continuous firing, two
Jap cruisers disappeared.
"We saw Jap destroyer standing
in and fired a salvo at her which
hit with q binding flash. Then
something hit us. The order TO
abandon ship was given. It was
pitch dark and everything was COW
cred with, oil from the ships vita!s.
Went Over Side.
"I got my camera and went TO
the quarterback. The sailors were
slashing RATS loose and jumping
overheard and I went over the side.
The water was thickly covered with
oil
II padded 5 minutes and reached
a raft on which were 30 other men.
There wasn't room for me so T chung
on lifelines in the water.
Il locked back and saw the ship
like a great ghost against the gun
flashes. She was sinking and
seemed to be dragging las back. We
padded and rowed msdly. One
man was crying out, Come on
sailors, give it hell
we cleared her and she settled
quietly and disappeared.
L heard fellows calling for help
all around, but there was little I
could do. We sighted another raft
and lashed both together. All the
while, we felt the conclusion of
shells exploding in the wal ter as the
battle continued.
Ship Promised Aid.
Some one saw the outline OF 8
ship and RATS started flashing
lights sll over the place. Then the
officer called out sdouse the lights,
they may be Jsps.'
1--WE saw searchlights We were
afraid Of going ashore on Kolom-
bangsra dslsnd on the Kula Gulf
above New Georgia. and padded
seward. A destroyer's boat passed
us, picked up an officer and said il
would be back. The men started to
shout hip. hip hooray' They
cneered in unison 20 attract at
UenJiLn
1--WE f1ashedothe lights again. The
whole sea was a mass of bCbping,
floating lights. A destroyer passed
within SO yards and we called, Are
you coming back?' Some one re-
piled, Take it easy, we will be back.
"A half-hour later q destroyer
came up and we climbed the rope
TO the deck. She Immediately put
on speed and started firing. Al