THE FIVE BATTLES OF THE SOLOMONS

Herewith is a summary of the five naval battles which have been fought off the Solomons since the initial attack on Tulagi:

Battle of Savo Island. On the night of Aug. 8-9, the Japs caught a U.S. cruiser and destroyer force patrolling defensively, sank four Allied cruisers, one transport.

Battle of the Eastern Solomons. On Aug. 24-25, a large Japanese striking force approached Guadalcanal from the direction of Truk, to the north. It was met by U.S. carrier forces, which damaged one battleship, several cruisers, two carriers, one destroyer, one transport, four "additional ships."

Battle of Cape Esperance. On the night of Oct. 11-12, a U.S. task force of cruisers and destroyers, including the Boise, intercepted a Japanese task force, sank two heavy cruisers, one light cruiser, three destroyers. The U.S. lost one destroyer.

Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. On Oct. 25-26 U.S. carrier forces sank two Jap destroyers, damaged two carriers, three heavy cruisers, one light cruiser, one destroyer, two battleships. The Japs sank an as yet unidentified U.S. carrier, a destroyer, a tug and a patrol boat. (The carrier Wasp was lost in an earlier action.)

Battle of Guadalcanal. On Nov. 13-15, Halsey saved Guadalcanal. The Japs lost one battleship, perhaps another battleship or a large cruiser, eight cruisers, six destroyers, twelve transports, and suffered damage to two battleships, one cruiser and six destroyers. The Japs sank two light cruisers, seven destroyers, damaged a heavy cruiser.

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