SIX ISLANDS HELD

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

SIX ISLANDS HELD

U.S. Forces In Solomons OFFICIAL DETAILS “The position of-our forces in the Guadalcanal-Tulagi area has been sufficiently well established to warrant the release of details of the action in the Solomons which has been in progress since early on the morning of August 7,” states a Navy Department communique. “Our approach to the area of operations was accomplished under cover, an overcast sky making aerial _ reconnaissance difficult. On the night of August 6 the weather cleared and our transports and screening forces proceeded unopposed. “The actual landing operations began early on the morning of August 7, under strong protection from carrierbased aircraft and supporting fire from surface vessels. Complete surprise was effected. Beachheads were soon established. Varying degrees of resistance were encountered.

“By nightfall our troops were,in possession of a strong beachhead in the Tenaru River region of Guadalcanal, and had captured most of Tulagi and all of Gavutu, and had occupied ft position at Halabo on Florida Island. “During the. night and early the following morning, the island of Tanambodo, which is connected to Gavutu by a causeway, was taken in the face of strong opposition. Before, during and after these attacks, long-range army bombers engaged in co-ordinated searcli operations. These bombers delivered heavy attacks on enemy ships and air bases in New Britain, New Guinea, and the Solomons area.

"Our operations on August 7 resulted in heavy loss to the enmy, both in men and aircraft, and also loss of control of all vital positions in the Guadalcanal-Tulagi area, and the loss of large quantities of supplies when the positions surrendered. We suffered one destroyer damaged, but our losses in men and aircraft were moderate during the first day’s operations. On the night of August 7 and the following morning, supplies and equipment were hurriedly unloaded from the ships and sent ashore to assist our patrols in consolidating t'helr gains. Forty or more enemy torpedo planes attacked ships in tho harbour on August 8, hitting a destroyer and an unloaded transport. The enemy lost 14 planes. During enemy air attacks on August 7 and 8, our carrier planes and A.A.’s shot down 47 Japanese planes. By sundown on August 'B, the area occupied in Guadalcanal had been expanded an an airfield which the Japanese had nearly completed was captured.

Enemy resistance at Tulagi, Guvutu and Tanambodo had been overcome and equipment captured which the Japanese were using to develop the Mador naval base. Japanese surface vessels made a strong attempt to disrupt the unloading of transports and c.fcrgo ships on the night of August 8. Our cruisers and destroyers intercepted the attack and forced the enemy to retreat before reaching the vessels engaged in lauding operations. Closerange fighting in this action resulted in damage to the enemy and outforces. ' By the following night unloading operations were completed and our transports and cargo ships left the area.

The marines had overcome all major opposition on Guadalcanal, Tulagi, Gavutu, Tanambodo, Makambo and portions of Florida by noon on August 10. Mopping-up operations have continued' to date. Several small contingents of enemy troops have been landed on the islands we hold. The largest landing was made by 700 troops on Guadalcanal, on August 21. Our positions were bombarded by surface craft, Submarines and aircraft, but the losses as a result of these attacks have ■been small.

“Every enemy attempt to recapture the lost positions has resulted in the complete annihilation or capture of all troops that landed.

“Reconnaissance aircraft on August 23 observed several detachments of enemy ships, including transports approaching Guadalcanal. An action at sea ended in the withdrawal of the enemy surface forces. While this action was in progress, the enemy made three strong air attacks on Guadalcanal, but were repulsed bj our aircraft operating from the captured airfield.