AIR SHIELD NOT BROKEN

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 21, 20 October 1942, Page 5

AIR SHIELD NOT BROKEN

Encouraging Factor

SYDNEY, October IS.

The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times’’ says that though nothing can be announced of the American movements to meet the Japanese threat, observers have been encouraged by the latest communique, reporting that after two days’ silence United States planes were operating over Guadalcanal on Friday. So long as the defenders’ air strength is not seriously impaired they have a great advantage. The fact that the United States Navy is not likely to have been caught unprepared for a situation “which it must have anticipated, and, indeed, desired to bring about” is stressed by the “Sydney Morning Herald” in a leading article. The paper says that effective aid can and will be sent to the besieged United States forces in the Solomons. , The New York paper “P.M.” declares that the Japanese forces on Guadalcanal, including troops which were pulled out from New Guinea, probably outnumber the reinforced American troops at least 10 to one. “Furthermore, the latest reports indicate that the Japanese have command of the sea as • well as air supremacy,” it says. “P.M.” warns that the only cheering notes are the statements of Colonel Knox, Secretary of the Navy, who expected the island could be held, and Admiral Nimitz, who was optimistic, “even in face of an enemy who outguns us to a dangerous extent.” “P.M.” says that America is in considerable danger of losing one of the greatest actions in the Pacific because Japan has temporarily shelved all other activities in this theatre. Not only have the Japanese concentrated the greatest naval force they have ever risked (probably the full battle fleet), but they also hold overwhelming superiority in other departments.. NO NEW LANDINGS BY JAPANESE Shipping In North RUGBY, October 18. Great activity by both sides in the Guadalcanal area is reported in a United States Navy Department communique. “The Japanese are continuing to bomb our airfield and shore positions on Guadalcanal, and it is believed that enemy troops and equipment are being disposed for a strong assault against the airfield,” says the correspondent. “There lias been no reports of enemy landings on Guadalcanal since October 15, but heavy concentrations of enemy ships are still reported off Buin and in the Shortland Island area. “On October 16 Flying Fortresses and Marine Corps aircraft repeatedly attacked enemy troops and equipment assembled in force o nthe north-west part of Guadalcanal. “Early on the morning of October 17, 14 enemy bombers, escorted by eight fighters, attacked our airfield and shore posoitions. Our fighters and bombers reported the destruction of all the 'bombers and two of the fighters. • “In the afternoon another group of • about 15 enemy bombers and a number of fighters carried out a second raid on our positions. One enemy bomber was probably destroyed and one of our planes is missing.’’