SEA STRUGGLE YET WIDER

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 31, 31 October 1942, Page 7

SEA STRUGGLE YET WIDER

New Movements Of

Jap Carriers

TWO SAID TO HAVE BEEN HIT

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) ’(Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received October 30, 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 30. United States warships and planes have heavily damaged a Japanese battleship, aircraft-carder, cruiser, and destroyer, according to a report by the Columbia Broadcasting Company, New York. The action took place off the Stewart Islands, north-west of Santa Cruz. The report states that other United States torpedo-carrying aircraft operating 600 miles north of the Stewart Islands, damaged a Japanese aircraft-carrier and cruiser. The Washington correspondent of the Associated Press, Richard Turner, says that a note of optimism is now distinctly noticeable in the Navy Department. “These men are in a position to know more of the facts than anyone else in Washington, ’ the correspondent says. >

A further unofficial report 1 Japanese have been able to make 1 Island, and that the American tn on three sides. A message from Pearl Harbour says that everything depends on the Allies getting reinforcements *to Guadalcanal quickly. A Navy Department communique today states: “During Tuesday morning our aircraft from Guadalcanal attacked enemy shore installations and aircraft moored at Rekata Bay. Fires were started, and four seaplanes were destroyed on the water. During the day aircraft from Guadalcanal bombed 4 enemy gun positions to the west of our airfield. An anti-aircraft battery and an ammunition dump were destroyed during the late afternoon. “An enemy assault on our positions succeeded in piercing our lines. Army and Marine Corps troops made a successful counterattack and our original positions were regained. Two additional enemy thrusts were repulsed. “No report of any recent action on the sea or a landing of enemy troop reinforcements has been received.” It was stated that the foregoing news was received only today. “The fighting in the Solomons is get ting tougher all the time,” said four navy fighter pilots returning to the United States for more planes, reports the Honolulu correspondent of the “New York Times.” “We can hold on if they will keep sending in reinforcements. The marines are plenty tough. We have the utmost confidence in them. They’ll hold on.” The army had no planes capable of the high altitude required, said thO pilots. “We need more, faster, and better fighters,” they declared. FORTRESSES BOMB BUIN HARBOUR LONDON, October 30. A force of General MacArthur’s Flying Fortresses has attacked Buin harbour, in the north Solomons. One ship was directly hit and bombs straddled two others. JAPAN’S GREAT GAMBLE Power Of Offensive LONDON, October 30. Unofficial reports state that the Japanese have some 20,000 to 30,000 troops on Guadalcanal. A news agency report from Pearl Harbour says that the enemy on Guadalcanal has an advantage in heavy artillery, tanks and supplies. The editor of the “Pacific Islands Monthly” states that the situation is not. one for optimism. It is Tulagi that the Japanese specially want to recapture, because it would be ah essential Japanese base if they want to take Australia and New Zealand. In the big attempt to recapture Tulagi tiie Japanese are operating with a supply line of 4000 miles, and are gambling as nations have seldom gambled before on maintaining their power at sea. HONG KONG AN ENEMY NAVAL BASE Significance Of Raids (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 29. The significance of the United 'States air raids on Hong Kong this week is disclosed by a Chinese official spokesman in London. Hong Kong is used by the Japanese as their principal naval base for operations south of the Equator, be said. The Chinese air attacks on Linsl are directed toward reducing the productivity of the important Kaigung coalfields and the big power plant there. A communique issued by General Stilwell’s headquarters today says that American bombers and fighters raided the aerodrome at Lashio, north Burma, on October 27, and hit a runway, a small hangar, a dispersal area, and an anti-aircraft battery. All the planes returned safely.

From Washington says that the landings in force on Guadalcanal oops there are now surrounded