ENEMY SURPRISED

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 285, 31 August 1942, Page 5

ENEMY SURPRISED

First Phase Of Battle In Solomons HEROIC MARINES

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) Received August 30, 7 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 29. A United States armada supported by units of the Australian Navy, bombers and fighters, surprised the Japanese in the Solomons and accomplished all the prescribed objectives within 48 hours, says the United Press of America correspondent, Mr. Robert Miller, in a dispatch from Guadalcanal Island. The Japanese strongholds on Tulagi, Tanambodo, Moamda and Makameo were captured and objectives controlling the larger. Guadalcanal and Florida Islands were occupied according to plan. Japanese battle casualties far exceeded those of the United Nations. Japanese 'bombing raids were beaten off by anti-aircraft fire and an umbrella of navy fighters, which together destroyed 40 Japanese planes off Guadalcanal in the first two days. Capture of Airport. The marines’ greatest prize was the Japanese-built airport on Guadalcanal, which was immediately placed in operation. The Americans also captured intact the 'base installations, scores of huge trucks, great quantities of stores, food, and fuel. The fleeing Japanese did not destroy a single piece of vital equipment The landing so surprised them that they fled into the jungle leaving unfinished bowls of rice in their mess halls.

The story o£ Tulagi, Gavutu and Tanambodo is an epic of American courage, heroism and devotion to duty comparable with Baton, Waite Island and Corregidor. Fighting was so furious in these islands that only a few Japanese prisoners were taken.

The GOO defenders on Tulagi fought to the last man. Twelve hundred Japanese on Gavutu refused to surrender. They retreated to caves where they died fighting. The marines’ casualties were amazingly light in comparison with the Japanese. Brigadier-General Rupertus, the marines’ commander, said: “What these men did here was far above and beyond all devotion to duty, and the United States should be proud of them.”

MAKIN ISLAND RAID Destruction Of Enemy Seaplane Base

(By Telegraph.—Press Assu.—Copyright.) PEAIRL HARBOUR, August’2B.

Graphic first-hand accounts of the United States marine corps’ recent raid on a Japanese seaplane base on Makin Island are given by Lieut-Colonel Evans Carlson, who led the raiders, and Major James Roosevelt, son of the President.

The marines wiped out the seaplane base and the installations, destroyed three radio stations, . 1000 barrels of aviation petrol, bombs, and foodstuffs, said Major Roosevelt. Only two Japanese out of a force of 300 survived the marines’ sudden attack - . The American losses were less than 10 per cent, of the enemy's.

Lieut.-Colonel Carlson revealed that the marines were on the island for 20 minutes before they were discovered, though the Japanese maintained a continuous alert with snipers strapped to the tops of 70-foot coconut trees for days at a time. “We fought till 11.30 a.m. on the first day when the first Japanese air raiders came over,” be said. “Meanwhile we had sunk a 3500-ton Japanese transport and a gunboat. Japanese planes strafed and bombed confusedly dropping more bombs on their own troops than on us. Americans As Deliverers.

“The fight ended at 4 p.m. on the second day. There were 1700 natives on the island, and they had been illtreated by the Japanese. The natives looked on the Americans as deliverers and served as an auxiliary intelligence corps.

“One of my hardest jobs was to keep my reserves from entering the firing lines because they all wanted to shoot. By accident, an officer and men in. a boat got Jost and came up at the rear of the Japanese. They shot eight and knocked out a Japanese radio station. They spent the rest, of the day cutting enemy communications, killing Japanese messengers, and generally raising hell. The battlefield was some sight when we left —dead Japs were behind almost every coconut tree.” Lieut.-Colonel Carlson said the Japanese were able to operate against Samoa and the Australian lifeline from Makin Island. As the marines destroyed everything the base was not much use at present. Apparently several British subjects had been on the island when the Japanese landed, but the marines found no indication of their fate.

SOLOMONS ACTION Scon As Part Of Big Campaign LONDON, August 28. The Commander-In-Chief of the Allied land forces in the South-west Pacific, General Blarney, said today that he thought the new Japanese invasion forces at. Milne Bay, in New Guinea, could be stopped from joining up with the Japanese at Kokoda, but that he expected fierce hand-to-hand and bayonet fighting. He paid a tribute to the Allied airforces which had attacked the Japanese convoy. lie made it clear that the action in the Solomons was not an isolated battle, but. .part of a big aggressive campaign which must be fought to a finish. General Blarney described the action .as quite successful so far, but said it

would absorb tremendous reserves on both sides. No Great Victory Vet.

An admonition against tho current Solomons operations being described as a major victory camo from one of the preferred that bis name should not be prefererd that his name should not be mentioned, says the Associated Press. This auHiority said that actually there bad been two phases of the Japanese activities since the American forces established themselves in the _ Southwestern Pacific. He was ■worried lest the Press should lead the country to believe a great and smashing victory had been achieved. The first phase was the landing ot 700 Japanese who were wiped out on Guadalcanal Island, and a series of smaller tieroplane attacks “in winch we came off pretty well, destroying 30 or 32 Jap aircraft and losing four.” The second phase should not be called a full-scale offensive, but a reconnaissance in force. This was the movement on the Solomons of units of the Japanese fleet. This reconnaissance force had now withdrawn. 'B e hit some ships and, we hope, sunk some,” the high authority said, "but wo would hate to have people get the idea that a major victory was scored.