SOLOMONS SUCCESS

Evening Star, Issue 24287, 31 August 1942, Page 3

SOLOMONS SUCCESS

U.S. MARINES' SURPRISE ATTACK MAJOR OPPOSITION OVERCOME WASHINGTON, August 29. The Navy Department lias announced that the marines are holding six of the Solomon Islands, and have annihilated or captured all of the Japanese troops who have landed in the attempts to recapture the islands. The position of the American forces in the Guadalcanal’ and Tulagi area has been sufficiently well established to warrant the release of details of the action in the Solomon Islands, which has been In progress since early in the morning of August 7, states the communique. Our approach to the area of operations was accomplished under cover of an overcast sky, making aerial reconnaissance difficult. On the night of August 6 the weather cleared and our transports and screening forces preceded unopposed. The actual landing operations were commenced early on the morning of August 7 under the strong protection of carrier-based aircraft and supporting lire from surface vessels. A complete surprise was effected, beach heads were soon established, and varying degrees of resistance were encountered. By nightfall our troops were in possession of a strong beach head in the Tenaru River region of Guadalcanar, had captured most of Tulagi, all of Gavntu, and occupied a position at Halabo on Florida-

During the night and early on the following morning the island of Tanambodo, which is connected with Gavntu by a causeway, was taken in the face of strong opposition. Before, during, and after these attacks longrange army bombers were engaged in co-ordinated search 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 enemy both in men and aircraft, and also the loss of control of all vital positions in the Guadalcanar and Tulagi area, and the loss of large quantities of supplies when the positions were surrendered. We suffered one destroyer damaged, but our losses of men and aircraft were moderate during the first day’s operations.

On the night of August 7, and on the following morning supplies of equipment were hurriedly unloaded from ships and sent ashore to assist our patrols in consolidating their gains. Forty or more enemy torpedo iplanes attacked ships in the harbour on August 8, hitting a destroyer and an unloaded transport. The enemy lost 14 planes. AIRFIELD CAPTURED.

During the enemy air attacks on August 7 and 8 our carrier planes and ack-acks shot down 47 Japanese planes. By sundown on August 8 the area occupied at Guadalcanar had been expanded, and the airfield which the Japanese had nearly completed was captured, and enemy resistance at Tulagi, Gavutu, and TanambodO had been overcome and equipment captured which the Japanese were using to develop the major naval base. Japanese surface made a strong attempt to disrupt the unlaoding of transports and cargo 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 m landing operations in close-range fighting. This action resulted in damage to the enemy and to our forces. By the following night the unloading operations were completed, and our transports and cargo ships left the area. The marines had overcome all major opposition at Guadalcanar, Tulagi, Gavutu, Tanarabodo, Makambo, and a portion of Florida by noon on August 10. ENEMY LOSSES SEVERE.

Mopping-up operations have continued up to the present. Several small contingents of enemy troops have heen landed on the islands w e hold. The largest lauding was made by 700 troops at Guadalcanar on August 21. Our positions were bombarded by surface craft, submarines, and aircraft, but our losses as the result of these attacks have been small. Every enemy attempt to recapture the lost positions has resulted ,111 the complete annihilation or the capture of all the troops that were landed. Reconnaissance aircraft on August lo observed several detachments of enemy ships, including transports, approaching Guadalcanar. The action at sea ended in the withdrawal of enemy surface forces. While this action was in (progress the enemy made three strong air "attacks on Guadalcanar, but were repulsed by our aircraft operating from the captured airfield. EPIC OF COURAGE NOTABLE OPERATION OF U.S. MARINES NEW YORK, August 29. The United States armada, supported by Australian Navy units, bombers, and fighters, surprised the Japanese in the Solomons, and accomplished all the prescribed objectives within 48 hours, says the United Press correspondent, Robert Miller, in a despatch from Guadalcanal Island. The Japanese strongholds on Tulagi. Tanamhodo, Moamda, and Makaraeo were captured and objectives controlling the larger Gaudalcanal and Florida Islands were occupied according to plan. The Japanese battle casualties far exceeded those of the United Nations.

Japanese bombing raids were beaten off by anti-aircraft lire and an umbrella of Navy fighters, which together destroyed~4o Japanese planes off Guadalcanal in the first two days. The marines’ greatest prize was a Japanesebuilt airport on Guadalcanal, whch was built airport on Guadalcanal which was immediately placed in operation. The Americans also captured intact base installations, scores of huge trucks, and 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 the mess halls. The story of Tulagi, Gavutu, and Tanambodo, the correspondent states, is an epic of American courage, heroism, and devotion to duty comparable with Batan, Wake Island, and Corregidor. The fighting was so furious in these islands that only a few Japanese prisoners were taken. Six hundred defenders on Tulagi fought to the last man, and 1,200 Japanese on Gavutu refused to surrender. They retreated to the caves, where they died lighting. The marines’ casualties were amazingly light in comparison with those of the Japanese. Brigadier - general Rupertus, the marines’ commander, said: “What these men did here was far above and beyond all previous conceptions of devotion to duty, and the United States should be proud of them.” JAP. DESTROYERS SUNK CAUGHT BY U.S. AIRCRAFT NEW YORK, August 29. A United States Navy communique states that late on Thursday afternoon United States patrol aircraft, based on Guadalcanal - Island, sighted one small and three large Japanese destroyers, apparently loaded with supplies and equipment for isolated Japanese patrols, which are believed to be operating near the eastern end of Santa Isabel Island. After reporting contact, the patrol planes attacked and secured a hit on a small destroyer. Then a striking force of Douglas dive-bombers arrived from Guaclaicanar as a result of the patrol’s contact report. They attacked the three large destroyers, one of which was sunk as the result of a heavy explosion following bomb hits. A second large destroyer was severely damaged and probably sunk. The striking force observed that the small destroyer, which was previously hit by the patrol planes, was crippled and burning. No further action is reported from this area. MAJOR BATTLES AHEAD ALLIED SUCCESSES HEARTENING (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) SYDNEY, August 30. (Reports that a major battle has flared up again in the Solomons have not been confirmed either here or in Washington. Though they had previously stated that enemy forces had been withdrawn, Washington officials admit that a large-scale enemy sea, and air assault preparatory to an attempt to land substantial numbers of Japanese troops on the islands recently captured by the Allies must he expected at any moment. The light enemy forces which were successfully attacked by our air forces on Thursday may have been the spearhead for a new attack.

While the, latest successes are heartening and indicate that the Allied forces are now firmlly entrenched on the islands, they have been accepted by observers with caution. Japan’s losses so far represent only a small portion of her sea strength.

‘ The Times,’ London, says: “ Japan cannot call a halt in the Pacific islands and hope to hold her ill-gotten gains. So long as Australia is held and supplied by the United Nations Japan will always be in danger. Japan must, therefore, endeavour to forestall the riposte by a successful invasion of the Australian continent before the United Nations can assemble enough force for its defence as the base of their own subsequent attack. Whatever setbacks she may experience, the Milne Bay landing proves that Japan is inevitably committed to an advance against Australia,” Australian observers see no reasons for altered views on the South Pacific situation, which is regarded more hopefully than ' for many weeks past. It has always been recognised here that the major test still lies ahead, but the Allied successes in recent operations give reason for optimism. It is felt here that the changed tone of some of the British and American comment is due rather to the fact that these distant commentators are beginning to view the Pacific situation with belatedly increasing realism than to the fact that new grounds have arisen for pessimism. It is pointed out that the inevitable pending South Pacific showdown was sought by the Allies, not by the Japanese. _ Our gains in the preliminary operations give a‘ solid basis for hopes of further successes in the arduous and costly struggle that lies ahead. GUADALCANAL HELD JAPANESE PLANES SHOT DOWN (Rec. 1.45 p.m.) Washington, August 30. A navy communique states: The Japanese twice raided our positions at Guadalcanal on August 29. The first attack was made by six planes, while the second, eight hours later, was made by 18 bombers. Three enemy bombers and four Zeros were shot down, while no American pianos were lost. The damage to our positions was only minor. THE WAR AT SEA AXIS SUBMARINE SUNK . HAVANA. August 29. Tho newspaper ‘EI Crisol ’ reported that an Axis submarine has been sunk and another captured with 35 members of the crew off Eastern Cuba. TWO ALLIED SHIPS LOST WASHINGTON, August 29. The Navy Department has announced tho loss of two more Allied merchantmen as the result of submarine attacks.

A medium-sized British ship was torpedoed and shelled off the north coast of South America, 18 members of the crew being rescued. The captain and 45 other members of the crew are still missing. A medium-sized American ship was torpedoed in the Caribbean Sea.