Show BOMBERS HIT NIP WARSHIPS IN SOLOMONS U. U S. S Fliers Blast Blast- Effo Effort rt to Supply Patrols WASHINGTON Aug 29 INS Reporting INS Reporting a fresh engagement engagement engagement en en- in the prolonged battle battle battle bat bat- tle for the Solomon islands the navy announced Saturday that U. U S. S land-based land patrol planes and dive bombers intercepted a squadron dron of Japanese destroyers destroy destroy- ers era two days ago and sank one large destroyer and damaged two others The action brought to at least 18 the number of Nipponese ships which have been sunk or damaged by U. U S. S forces since the fighting in the Solomons started In the latest fighting the navy stated that the enemy squadron consisted of one small and three large Japanese de de- de- de Supplies for Patrols These ships appeared to be loaded with supplies and equipment equipment equipment equip equip- ment for isolated Japanese patrols believed to be operating near the eastern end of Santa Isabel island the navy announced Patrol planes plane based on Guadalcanal Guadalcanal Guadalcanal Guadal Guadal- canal island which U. U S. S marines seized from the Japs first intercepted intercepted intercepted inter inter- the Japanese destroyers and attacked Immediately di tely se securing one hit on a small destroyer the navy reported Later the n navy a v y continued Douglas dive bombers based on the island attacked the three large destroyers sinking inking one and severely severely severely se se- se- se verely damaging another The sinking and damaging of these vessels brought to more than 18 the number of Nipponese warships warships warships war war- ships and auxiliary vessels sunk or damaged to date in the battle for the strategic islands Destroy 69 Nip Planes In addition at least 69 Japanese planes have been destroyed by American aircraft in the Solomon islands area while American plane losses have been listed officially as only four American and united nations ship losses to date have been listed officially as one cruiser sunk and two cruisers two destroyers and andone andone andone one transport damaged This was the first mention of Santa Isabel island as part of the Solomons action since the marines moved in to the Tu Guadalcanal-Tu- lagi area on A August gust 7 Santa Isabel is located only a short distance northwest of and might be considered a threat to American positions if the Japanese Japanese Japanese Japa Japa- nese were able to move in reinforcements reinforcements rein rein- and supplies to establish establish establish lish a base there Marines on Seven Isles There has been no mention of any land action on Santa Isabel although advices from the Solomons Solomons Solomons Solo Solo- mons disclosed that American marines marines marines ma ma- rines have been in action on at least seven islands in the area Smashing of the Japanese destroyers destroyers destroyers de de- de- de was an another lher- lher victory for I American land-based land planes on Guadalcanal where the Japanese were completing an airport at the time the marines captured the island On August 24 these land-based land planes turned back an enemy inva- inva Continued on Page Pae Two Column Four BOMBERS HIT 3 NIP VESSELS Continued from Page One sion sian force consisting of transports cruisers and destroyers The Douglas dive bomber mentioned mentioned mentioned men men- in the is a speedy naval plane which travels approximately miles per hour carries a crew of off of two and has a range of about 1000 miles The navy offered no further details details details de de- de- de tails on the scale large sea battle battle battle bat bat- tle which began last Sunday and which was terminated two days lat later with undetermined results Most of the victories in the Solomons Solomons Solomons Solo Solo- mons campaign to date have been credited to U. U S. S marine invaders and land-based land bombers and dive bombers On August 20 the Japs landed an invasion force of on Guadalcanal Guadalcanal Guadalcanal Guadal Guadal- canal but marines based there wiped out of them and e cap p p- p 30 While conservative military and naval experts and high gover ment officials do not consider American victories to date decisive decisive decisive deci deci- sive nevertheless American forces ha have ve won virtually every engagement engagement engagement engage engage- ment since the present campaign began with the U. U S. S seizure of islands in the area |