SOLOMONS SEA BATTLE

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 246, 19 October 1942, Page 5

SOLOMONS SEA BATTLE

CHIEF BASIS 0F ALLIED HOPE RAIDS BY AUSTRALIA-BASED BOMBERS. P.A. Special. SYDNEY, Oct. 18. What little late news has been received of the fighting in the Solomon Islands is- of a sombre character. It is revealed from Washington that in face of the apparent Japanese sea and air control the American anxiety about the outcome is growing. However, beyond the earlier report that a naval battle was raging, no official mention has been made of the operations by the strong Allied naval force which is somewhere in the area. Now that the American landbased air-power has been so seriously crippled, it is on the hidden operations of the Allied fleet that the flnal outcome will depend.

Japan's first objective of neutralising the American landbased air power on the vital Henderson airfleld appears to have been accomplished, and «the secrecy-shrouded sea battle must be the flnal determining factor. Allied aircraft of General MacArthur's South-west Pacific Command have been giving strong support to Vice-Admiral Ghormley's forces in the Solomon Islands. Fifteen tons of bombs were dropped in a Flying Fortress raid on the main Japanese southward base at Rabaul shortly before dawn toclay. Widespread damage is believed to have been caused, but the details of this and other raids are lacking. The -aerodromes at Buka and Buin, in the northern Solomons, have been heavily attacked at night by large formations of bombers. At Buka many fires were started, and at Buin hits were scored on runways among dispersed aircraft. The main purpose of these raids has undoubtedly been to neutralise the Japanese air strength in the Solomons battle, but attacks against enemy shipping have also been made. At Buin and Shortland Island, Allied offensive reconnaissance units bombed two large Japanese transports. The results could not be observed. RECENT INCIDENTS. Saturday's communique from the Navy Department says: "The following details of the action in recent days have been received: — During an air attack on Guadalcanar last Monday afternoon three enemy bombers and five fighters were shot down. On Thursday night enemy surface vessels bombarded our positions on Guadalcanar for about an hour. Naval aircraft made a night torpedo attack on a group of enemy vessels to the east of- the Solomons. A torpedo hit on an enemy cruiser was reported. Yesterday morning our aircraft from Guadalcanar attacked enemy troops' positions along the north-west coast of the island. "Late in the afternoon Navy and Marine Corps dive-bombers attacked two enemy transports and accompanying destroyers in the area west of New Georgia Island. Direct hits damaged and set fire to one transport, and the second is believed to have been damaged by near misses. "All information regarding the Solomon Islands which is not of value to the enemy is being announced as soon as possible after it has been received."