GUADALCANAL BATTLE

Evening Star, Issue 24328, 17 October 1942, Page 5

GUADALCANAL BATTLE

Large Enemy Force Landed

HEAVY FIGHTING IN PROGRESS

Press Association—By Telegraph-Copyright

(Hec. 11 a.m.) WASHINGTON. October 16. the Navy Department announced that a large enemy force landed at Guadalcanal with artillery and is now shelling the American positions. , . , , The Navy Department also announced that a large concentration of enemy ships was discovered near Shortland Island, 259 miles north-westward of Guadalcanal. Heavy fighting is in progress in Guadalcanal. The New Zealand Press Association Special Australian correspondent cables: The great sea, land, and air battle for the Solomons, now in its fourth day, is still in progress. Ihe United States Navy Department states that no news of the sea battle will be available until a decision has been reached. The outcome of this, the biggest engagement of the Pacific war,' is so vitally important to New Zealand and Australia that it is capable of completely changing the position in this gome most powerful naval units, combined with considerable air strength, the desperate Japanese efforts to regain their lost Solomons positions have so far cost them considerable losses—and it is plain that this is the major showdown which has been expected in the area for two months PSSt An earlier Chungking report stated that the Japanese fleet comprises four aircraft-carriers and seven battleships, escorted by cruisers and destrovers , , Some of the Japanese naval units are reported to be still off Guadalcanal, where the enemy beached burning transports in efforts to land reinforcements. It has been revealed that the latest American reinforcements on the island are equipped with heavy General Grant tanks.