WASHINGTON, Nov. 3....
Secretary of Navy Frank Knox
said today that latest information indicates
that the Japanese lost three cruisers and five destroyers in the Oct.
11-12 night naval battle near Savo Island when a force of American
cruisers and destroyers slugged it out with a similar enemy force.
GHORMLEY MAKES REPORT
Knox said that Vice Admiral
Robert Lee Ghormley, former commander of
naval forces in the South Pacific, brought the information with him
to Washington. The Secretary of Navy said it indicated the
conservativeness of Navy communiqués since the announcement of Oct. 13
regarding the engagement said one heavy Japanese cruiser, four destroyers
and one transport were sunk and subsequently two cruisers were damaged.
Regarding Admiral Ghormley, who has been replaced as commander of naval
forces in the South Pacific, Knox said, "I told him to take a good rest
and recover his health....he's been under a terrific strain."
WARNS AGAINST OPTIMISM
Know warned newsmen at his press conference against undue optimism
regarding the situation at Guadalcanal in the Solomons.
"I detect a disposition to grow too optimistic regarding the Solomons
due to our signal success in the first round," the secretary said.
"There is no warrant for optimism. It still is a bitter, tough fight."
"We know they have a fleet of formidable proportions left. We have no
doubt that they will come back and it is dangerous to assume that they
will not come back. Any assumption that this is all there will be of
the operation is unwarranted.
"I do not want to build up optimism that will be punctured later by the
desperately hard fighting that is a head. Both sides are taking advantage
of the lull to strengthen their lines for what will come."
"Some newspaper headlines this morning were more optimistic than the
situation justified."
