Evening star., 1943-08-09
Eyewitness Describes
VeIIa Attack as One
OF Wars Most Darinq
BY ART BURGESS,

by ARI BURGESS,
Associated Press War Core spondent.
ABOARD THE FLAGSHIP OF A
NAVAL TASK FORCE, Aug. 7 de-
layed d.-A light American naval
force of Jack the Giant Killers
sank at least four japanese warships
today in one of the most daring
attacks of the war.
The United States ships steamed
right into the enemy's stronghold in
Vella Gulf in the Solomons and
destroyed one cruiser and three de-
stroyers. I was the only war CORE
spondent aboard the flagship of the
American task force.
tGen. Douglas MacArthur's
communique of August said one
cruiser and two destroyers we're
definitely sunk and the fourth
vessel probably SO" in a battle
which started shortly before mid
night August 6. And, it added,
We sustained no losses)
From the bridge deck and the
direction platform above I had an
unopposed view Of the entire battle
in the narrow gulf between strong
japanese bases on Kolombangara
and Vella Lavella Islands.
Jap Cruiser Explodes.
7 saw the japanese cruiser. a
three-stacker with an airplane hoist,
explode soon after it was hit by tor
peroes and shells from our ships in
the waters northwest Of famed
Munda airfield on New Georgia
Island, which is now in American
hands.
The cruiser, standing broadside to
us. first caught fire in her bow from
torpedoes, and when our gun bat
teries opened on her in a masterful
naval tactical maneuver, I saw addi-
tional fire break out followed by a
terrifying explosion.
The blast sent flames thousands
of feet in the air, enabling me to
take down notes as if under a hun
dred-watt lamp. The fire-in sheets
of yellow, orange and red-spread
over the water, lighting up the
channel from shore despite overcast
weather.
Then a japanese destroyer hov-
cred into sight directly in front of
the burning cruiser, making it stand
out as perfect target. 1t gave us a
good idea, too, how big the cruiser
was.
After salvo after salvo was fired
into her by several United States
ships, all of which were changing
course from time to time, the enemy
cruiser went up into the air like a
Texas bronco. Then she plunged
down and sank within a few min
uteS.
Two Other Jap Ships Hit.
Meanwhile, torpedoes from our
force hit the other two japanese
ships, one of which also exploded.
The other was burning from stem to
stern when we left | hour and 20
minutes later.
The first cannonade from our ship
caught me climbing the ladder from
bridge deck to the direction plat
form. The powerful blast sent me
reeling back against the bridge
railing, knocking off my tin hat.
The battle opened shortly after
midnight August 6. The sky was
overcast. A light rain had been
falling little earlier but had
stopped. The horizon lightened
slightly.
The enemy ships were proceeding
in direction opposite to ours and
at slower speed, indicating they
might have been preparing to drop
anchor and land reinforcements.
This flagship carried the fight to
the enemy all the way. After lead
ing our forces in Vella Gulf, the
flagship held its fire, closing our
range.
Enemy Caught in Cross Fire.
We changed course to speed
around the enemy. Other members
of the task force who had been
trailing us then opened fire and
drew return fire, apparently from
enemy destroyers and what ap-
peared to be shore batteries.
Within a few minutes our flag
ship had come around the Japs,
catching them flat-footed in cross
fire from another section of the
channel. I don't believe the enemy
ever knew our ship was there in
the attacking force until that
moment. Soon all forces we're send
ing shell after shell across the gulf
waters.
I could see our tracers penetrate
into one enemy ship with deadly
accuracy. None of our ships re-
ceived single hit or casualty.
Enemy shell fire was way off beam
in most cases. Our ship received
only two near misses, one of which
we saw fall behind the stern. Sew
eral torpedoes missed us, one coming
within few yards of the bow, but
masterful handling of the ship kept
us away from it.
Oil Sticks Blazing.
For miles afterward we could see
fires and sometimes flames shooting
across the water rapidly as blazing
oil Sticks joined. Near the end we
moved in close to the other ships
and attempted to pick up survivors.
There were dozens of them in the
dark water. Fumes and smoke
drove us back.
We did not fire star shells as the
Japs did, but both sides sent tracer
bullets criSs- crossing the channel in
scores of fiery streaks. We stayed
in the battle area until 1:25 am.
August 7.
1t. Comdr. Clifton Iverson cele-
brated his 35th birthday with the
sinkings. 1t also was the ami
versary of American landings at
Guadalcanal, so every one thought
the United States victory particu-
larly appropriate.
Comdr. Iverson is from Houston.
His wife and two children-one of
whom he has never seen-reside at
Houston. He has two brothers in
the Navy.
Submarine Launched in Alert