The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-10-25

The conlmunique said Admiral William r. Halsey's Srd fleet, at last bringing the Japanese fleet to bat tle, SO far had sunk at least one large aircraft carrier, severely daT1- age6 two others, and bombed, tor- pedoed CT strafed five or six battle- ships two cruisers and four destroy: CTS, as well as other uIldisclosed craft.
 Japanese imperial headquarters voluntarily added to the toll by ac. knowledging in communique that two of the cruisers and one de- stroyer had been sunk, but said nothing of the aircraft carrier and did not mention any damage to other fleet units.
 Some i50 Japanese planes were ehot down during the enemy attack which resulted in the sinking of the Princeton, Nimitz said, but oth- or enemy aircraft losses were not listed.
 The Japanese communique claim cd that l6 American ships had been sunk or damaged. Four aircraft carriers, two cruisers, one destroyer and more than" four transports, were sunk, Tokyo said while two more aircraft carriers, 0 battleship and two cruisers were reported damaged. Two of the enemy naval forces were sighted yesterday Philippines time (Monday, Pearl Harbor Time sailing through the central Philip pines, one preceding through the sibuyan Sea about 100 miles north- west of Leyte and the other in the sulu Sea about i50 miles south west of Leyte at the nearest points Roaring out to the attack, Hal. sey's carrier-horne planes damaged three or four battleships In the Si- buyan Sea with bombs and torpe.. doed at least one of them. one Of 10 cruisers in the force also was torpedoed, but there were no re- ports of damage to lS accompany Ing destroyers.
 The entire enemy force sighted in the Sulu Sea southwest of Negros Island was damaged in varying oe- gree by HalSey's planes. TWO pat- tleships were hit with bombs and a cruiser and four deStroyers were strafed severely, Ninit2 said,
 Late yesterday afternoon, search planes sighted the third enemy force between the Philippines and Formosa moving south from Jap. Anese home waters. It was brought to action today. Philippines time'
 Reports which are as yet ineom- plete indicated that severe damage has been inicted on the enemy, that at least one of his large carriers haS been sunk and that two others have heon damaged severely" NimitzS communique said,
 Princeton Hit
 fk reported that Japanese Shore- based aircraft attacked one of the American task groups in the Third Fleet while 1t was moving against tho northern enemy force yesterday, seriously damaging the light Carrier Princeton.
 subsequently, the Princeton's margarine exploded and the ship, badly crippled, was sunk" the coiIis munique said. Her captain, l33 other officers and i,227 enlisted men were saved. Casualties among her personnel were light. Approximately ib0 enemy aircraft were shot down during this attack"
 The Japanese naval forces, acc certing battle in strength for the first time since the forayS of Guad- aicanAl two years ago. apparently were attempting to drive of the American Third and Seventh Fleets supporting the invasion of Leyte, isolate and bambard MacArthur'S troops on the island and land rein- forcementS for the hard-presSed enemy garrison,
 The outcome of the battle not only may decide the control of the Philippines waters, but probably will 90 . long way toward determining the length of the war in the Pacific.
 Critical Moment
 Vice Admiral John II. Towers, deputy commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet, told c Honolulu Ro- tary Club audience that this may be . critical moment in our hiS- tory"
 The Japanese struck at Halsey's fleet as it was nearing the end of N Q two-month rourd of attacks on Japanese bases stretching from the Philippines to Ryukyu Island, 200 miles below the Japanese mainland, without once touching at c major naval base to refuel and re-supply. During that period however, Hal- scy had severely crippled Japanese air force guarding the southern ap- breaches to Japan proper by de- stroying or damaging 2,276 to 2,296 enemy aircraft, mostly In the Phil- ippineS,
 Standing by off Leyte, but pre- sumably able to support the 3rd fleet should the need arise, was Vice Admiral Thomas c. Kinkaid'S Amer ican 7th fleet and an Australian naval squadron.
 Japanese fleet units first ventured out against HaiseyS forces c week ago while American carrier planes were pounding the big NipponeSe base Of Formosa to pieces, but took ere look ct the great force and fled without firing c shot,
 Last June
 Last June, the Japanese also sent q naval force against American war. ships during the invasion of tho MafianaS, but likewise retired with- out joining battle with surface units after losing ct least four ships sunk and 10 others damaged to American carrier.borne aircraft Of the 6th fleet.
 Tokyo broadcasts said surface units of the Japanese fleet, along with aircraft, vent into action agaiElst American warships an C planes least Of samar," on ii1dica. Elon that the enemy forces may have sailed completely through the Phil- lppines to . point northeast of Ley.