Evening star., 1944-11-18

Destroyer escort Samuel B. Rob-
erts. Brown Shipbuilding Co., Hous-
ton, Tex, commissioned April, 1914.
group had traversed San Bernardino
Strait.
The escort carriers, silhouetted
against the dawn, came under heavy
fire from the Japanese force which,
in the western gloom and with the
Philippine hills providing further
concealment, possessed every ad-
vantage of position and firing
power. The carriers, converted
merchantmen, headed on to the
eastward into the east wind at the
top OF their limited speed, launching
aircraft to attack the enemy. But
the enemy's superior speed and gun
power swiftly told. The japanese
continued to close in, hauling around
to the northward and forcing this
carrier group to head southwark,
under continuous fire from the en-
emy's 16-inch, 14-inch and 8-inch
shells.
Japanese craftsmanship was Door.
and American seamanship excellent,
however, and although frequently
straddled, our ships were not heavily
hit during the first part of the en-
gagement. BY 8 o'clock, though,
despite sustained air attack on the
enemy and the best efforts of the
destroyer support with smoke
screens and forays against the jap
anese. the carriers began to take
considerable punishment. One of
them was sunk. Two destroyers and
q destroyer escort which courag-
eously. charged the Japanese battle
ships went down under the enemy's
heavy shells.
Pay Price for Success.
Nevertheless, the japanese paid
an exhorbitant price for their sue
cess, such as 1t was. Two of their
heavy cruisers we're sunk, and one
perhaps two-of their destroyers
went down under the concentrated
counterattack from surface and air.
Still the enemy pressed his ad-
vantage, and by $40 the carrier
group had been jockeyed into a sit
uation with the Japanese, only H.
600 yards distant, and in position
for the kill.
Then. suddenly, the enemy ships
hauled away, gradually widening the
distance, and to the astonishment
OF the battered American forces.
broke of the battle with q final
and harmless spread of torpedoes
before steaming over the northern
horizon at high speed, trailing oil
from pierced hulls as they fed.
What happened can be recon-
structed from the events already re-
viewed. The Japanese admiral. with
a costly local victory in sight, re-
ceived word Of the destruction of
the southern force in Surigao Strait
and the utter rout Of the northern
force with the destruction of its
carriers. He had to get back through
San Bernardino Strait, or face an
Inhalation.
U. s. Force in Leyte Gulf.
Further, though the Jap may not
have known it, we had q battleship
and cruiser force part of the 7th
Fleet-in Leyte Gulf for the purpose
OF protecting the transports and
landing craft from any enemy force
attempting to destroy them. This
was the force which SO completely
defeated the Japanese southern
force before daylight in the southern
part OF Leyte Gulf, almost ami
hilating it-and which was still
available - almost unscathed - to
prevent the entrance of the central
force.
The vanguard of the returning Sd
Fleet units caught one struggling
enemy destroyer before 1t reached
the strait and sank it. Early the
next day air groups from our car
riers ranged over the Sibuyan Sea
and continued attacks on the fugi-
tives. probably sinking one heavy
cruiser and light cruiser.
Back at the scene of the attack
on the carriers, the Japanese con-
tinued to harass the American ships
with land-based planes, resulting in
the sinking of second of the CVE,s.
but the Second Battle of the Philip
pines was over and decisively won.
The enemy fleet had sustained losses
and damage which materially weak
ened their overall naval and air
strength against the final drive of
the United States forces against the
empire.
Leyte Reinforcements.
We must not, however, allow our
selves to feel that this victory ef-
fectively prevented any reinforce
ment Of the Jap forces on Leyte
and Samar, because he can still, by
the very nature of the geography
Of the islands which AFFORD pro-
lection and hiding places for short.
fast transportation runs, continued
his .reinforcements at an increas-
ingly diminishing rate.
He cannot, however, prevent our
own reinforcement and supply of
Gen. Macarthur and his gallant
troops. Our naval and air forces
will continue to insure the control
OF these sea approaches to the
Philippines and the effective sup
port and supply of our troops.
The ri Elaof ryo, ,,~l.-