ORDER OF EVENTS

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

ORDER OF EVENTS

HEAVY TOLL OF ENEMY FUMES OTHER JAPANESE NAVAL FORCES IN VICINITY (British Official Wireless.) ' (Rec. 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, October 13. A full version of the United States Navy Department communique reads:— “ Despatches-from our forces in the South Pacific reveal the following chronological developments leading up to th« current battle in the Guadalcanal area: On the morning of October 12 army Flying Fortresses bombed the airfield and shore establishments on Buka Island. Fires were started. -Ten wrecked' bombers and fighters, were observed on the ground. Army- bombers hit and set fire to one cargo ship at Buin Island and damaged another.' Six enemy fighters were shot down. Navy Marine Corps aircraft attacked enemy ships southward of New Georgia Island. “ In the afternoon of October 13 the airfield at Guadalcanal was twice bombed by the enemy. Three enemy planes were shot down. One of our fighters was lost. By nightfall the United States auxiliaries landed reinforcements for our troops on Guadalcanal. Although the ships were attacked by enemy bombers no damage was suffered. Our ships unloaded and withdrew. “ During the night of October 13 the airfield and land and shore installations on Guadalcanal were heavily bombarded by an enemy surface force believed to contain battleships, cruisers, and destroyers. Shore batteries scored three hits on enemy destroyers during the bombardment. “ In the afternoon of October 14 the Guadalcanal airfield was attacked by two separate groups of enemy bombers, each with fighter escort. Our fighters were finable to intercept the first flight, which contained about 25 aircraft. During the second attack we shot down nine of 13 bombers, also destroyed four fighters. We lost one fighter. “’Early in the morning of October 13 enemy transports, escorted by destroyers, cruisers, and one battleship, were sighted off Savo Island. This force proceeded to land troops on the north coast of Guadalcanal westward of our airfield. An aircraft striking group attacked the enemy ships, making three direct hits on one transport, while two other transports were left burning. The Japanese battleship was damaged. One enemy fighter was destroyed. “ Other ’ enemy forces, including heavy units, have been sighted in the vicinity of Guadalcanal.” - ITALIAN SHIP SUNK LONDON, October 14. An Italian communique states that a British submarine in the Central Mediterranean torpedoed and sank an Italian ship carrying 400 British prisoners, of whom 261 were saved. An Italian submarine which was operating in the Atlantic has not returned, - - -