BIG BATTLE RACING

Evening Star, Issue 24327, 16 October 1942, Page 3

BIG BATTLE RACING

Japs. Make New Solomons Landing Enemy Battleship Damaged (British Official Wireless.) (Eec. noon.) EUGBY, October 15. > A heavy battle is raging at Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Islands, the Japanese having brought up big units. A communique from the United States Navy Department states that early on Thursday morning Japanese transports were sighted, the ships being escorted by destroyers, cruisers, and a battleship. American planes at once went in to attack, a direct hit being scored on one transport. Two other transports were left burning. The Japanese battleship was dami aged. Only skqtchy details are available at present, as the battle is still in progress. A United States Navy communique issued to-day states that the Japanese succeeded in landing reinforcements on the north coast of Guadalcanal, but 33 Japanese aircraft have been destroyed and seven Japanese ships hit, including a battleship. This includes hits scored by aircraft and also by shore batteries, which hit three destroyers which were among the Japanese force bombarding our positions at Guadalcanal on the night of October 13. , This force is believed to contain battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and apparently was additional to the force which escorted a transport landing Japanese troops on» the north coast of the island. A message from New York states that the seriousness with which the Navy Department views the enemy’s latest manoeuvres in the Solomons is emphasised by the speed with which the announcement was made, says the Associated Press Washington correspondent. The Japanese activities contained a grim new significance not hitherto attached to - their movements in the South-west Pacific. They have not previously succeeded in bombarding the airfield- or the main installations. , Furthermore, the troops were landed from transports covered by naval units, meaning undoubtedly that not only men but also artillery, in which they were previously deficient, were got ashore, also supplies. The New York ' Times ’ Washington correspondent says it, is possible that the renewed action lends some support to foreign reports that a large Japanese fleet has moved into the South-west Pacific. The facts in the latest Navy communique, even without elaboration by official sources, indicate the possible necessity of recasting the hitherto optimistic view of the Solomons action if the Japanese are as willing as they seem to be .to expend all the force necessary and make any sacrifice in the attempt to recapture Guadalcanal airfield. Mr H. L. Stimson told a Press conference that American Army ground and air forces recently arrived in Guadalcanal to reinforce the marines, and seized important positions in the Solomons, to which they are holding tenaciously against vigorous Japanese counter-attacks. , Mr Stimson also said substantial Army forces were now in the New Hebrides, the Fijian .Islands, and other points, where their presence was undisclosed previously. All these forces were under the command of Air Force Major-general Millard Harmon, who has his headquarters in New Zealand, and spent most of his time at the advanced base in New Caledonia. The Army and Navy forces in this area were fighting in the closest possible co-operation undeY the unified" , command of the Navy.