ALLIES HARDPRESSED

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 20, 19 October 1942, Page 5

ALLIES HARDPRESSED

Enemy Fleet In Islands NO SHOWDOWN ON LAND YET (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright., (Received October 18, 9.10 p.m.) NEW YORK, October 17. The United. States Navy Department reports: “Though large numbers of Japanese troops are known to be on Guadalcanal Island, there has been no full-scale fighting. Our land, sea and air forges of the army, navy, and Marine Corps are engaged in meeting a serious enemy assault, the outcome of which is still undecided. Our losses have been minor, but in a battle of this nature losses must be expected.” "Ever-growing Japanese naval forces are closing in on Guadalcanal,” says the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times.” "Scant word has been received from the island, indicating that a lack of air and sea support has placed the American forces in a serious if not critical position. The Japanese bombing and artillery fire have apparently rendered Henderson airfield unusable. , ,

The Japanese have made a 1 of Guadalcanal, and are advancini rear of the American positions. “The American land strength is not known accurately, but recent reinforcements of men and tanks are bolstering the United States marines. One observer

fresh landing on the south coast ig over the mountains against the

place? the enemy land strength at 20,000, and says that the United States forces are about equal,” the correspondent continues. “Air Strength Grounded.” “Though enemy ships were reported In the Solomons area three days ago, this Is the second day in which aerial attacks on Japanese vessels have not been mentioned. The only possible conclusion is that the American air strength has been grounded by the destruction of planes or of the aerodrome’s runways.

“The Navy Department has not answered questions regarding the activities of the American naval units, and this (means either that the navy is pursuing a course which has not yet matured or' that insufficient heavy ships are available to go to the aid of the ground troops. “If Henderson field is unusable, the nearest air (base is Espiritu iSanto, in the New Hebrides, 500 miles distant, which is too far for the operation of fighters and dive-bombers. Another alternative is to send planes from carriers, but it is not known whether sufficient carrier strength is available. Large Japanese Forces. “A study of the recent communiques indicates that the Japanese have mustered a force north of the (Solomons in the last two months (which was.far greater' than was expected by those who planned the marines’ expedition against Guadalcanal. In spite bf their losses of 40 ships and 265 planes, the Japanese have sent to Guadalcanal in the last few days forces which are rapidly assuming the proportions of a battle fleet.

“The defenders of Guadalcanal, aware of. the force being sent there, again tried to ward it off with the air power at their disposal, but it was overwhelmed. ,

“The marines defending Guadalcanal captured 40 American-built 75 millimetre guns recently.. It is-be-lieved the Japanese captured these zuns in the Philippines.”

HOPES PLACED IN SEA FIGHT

Air Defence Weaker (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received October 18, 9.30 p.m.) (SYDNEY, October 18,

What little late news has been received of the fighting in the Solomon Islands is of a sombre character. It is revealed from Washington that in face of the apparent Japanese sea and air control the American anxiety about the outcome is growing. However, beyond the earlier report that a naval i battle was raging, no official mention has been made of the operations by the strong Allied naval force which is somewhere in the area. Now that the American land-based air-, power has been so- seriously crippled, it is on the hidden operations of the Allied fleet that the final outcome will depend. Japan’s first objective of neutralizing the American land-based air power on the vital Henderson airfield appears to have been accomplished, and the secrecy-shrouded sea battle must be the final determining factor.

JAPANESE CLAIM Capture Of Airfields ('Received October 18, 7 p.m.) WASHINGTON, October 16. Tokio claims that the Japanese have recaptured two important airfields in the Solomons, according. to Berlin radio. However, Henderson airfield, Guadalcanal is stated here to Jbe the; only airfield in the American-occupied southern islands of the group. AMERICAN SPIRIT (Received October 18, 7 p.m.) WASHINGTON, October 16. Asked at a Press conference if he thought the American positions in the Solomons could be held, the Secretary of the Navy, Colonel Knox, replied, “I certainly 'hope so, and I expect so. I don’t want to make predictions, but every man out there, afloat and ashore, will give a good account of himself.” When a reporter asked if his state(went “I expect so” was a prediction, Colonel Knox replied, “Don’t pin me down on a specific word. There is nothing I can say beyond the information in the communiques. There is a real fight on out there. Of course every American hopes we will win, but there is no concealing that we are in a stiff, tough fight, and the result has not yet been determined.”