RIVAL FLEETS IN SOLOMONS

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 248, 21 October 1942, Page 2

RIVAL FLEETS IN SOLOMONS

BOMBERS CARRYING ON THE WAR. HEAVY FORCES IN THE AREA.

P.A. Gable.

LONDON, Oct. 20.

American bombers have blasted enemy troops and supply coneentrations on Guadaleanar for the third snccessive day, says a United States Navy communique issued at Washington. No reporf has been received of any offensive operations against United States positions on Gnadalcanar since the Japanese landed on Thursday. Large numbers of enemy warships and auxiliaries were stated to have been reported in the Solomons area. Although the Japanese and American fleets are apparcntly close to each other in the Solomons area no elash has yet been leported. According to some Washington reports, h e a v y American warships have moved to the battle zone, steaming unopposed through water previously dominated by the Japanese fleet. A Pearl Harbour report estimates that at least 15,000 Japanese troops ianded on Guadalcanar last month. No new Japanese landings on the island since last Thursday have been reported. The massing of Japanese sea, land and air power indicates that Japan intends to concentrate in the Solomons one of the greatest

strikmg forces she has ever sent to any territory and build up the most powerful umbrella of planes she has ever assembled, despite c.ontinuing heavy losses Japan does not appear to be ex-' pecting a quick or easy victory. Tokio radio announces that the Foreign Office spokesman, Tokokazu Hori, broadcasting to the Japanese nation, said that the Pacific conflict was gradually assuming the phase of a long-term war, which was requiring all the strength of the Japanese people. He also warned the Japanese of the possibility of a general counter-attack by the United Nations against Japan, and declared that the United Nations strategists were considering the Pacific area and Africa as well as Europe for the formation of a second front Urging that supplies for Americans on Guadalcanar should be rushed from Australia, the Sydney Telegraph says that the battle for the Solomons mav not be won with warships alone, but with supply ships. "Australia is only 1150 mil6s from the Solomons and is the place whence the war material and food should go," says the paper, pointing out that America is 6000 miles away from the battle area. The New York newspaper P.M/s report that the Japanese on Guadalcanar outnumber the American forces ten to one is accepted with considerable reserve. The numbers of enemy troops are regarded here as of secondary importance in a battle in which the major issue must be decided at sea. "If we gain complete control of the sea in the Solomons the Japanese forces on Guadalcanar will be in a trap," the Telegraph points out. "The bigger the forces the bigger the catch, but if the Japanese control the sea the trap will be on our front."