JAP. ATTACKS IN SOLOMONS

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 253, 27 October 1942, Page 5

JAP. ATTACKS IN SOLOMONS

ALL REPULSED

MARINES TAKE TOLL enemy warships hit NIP. FIGHTERS WIPED OFF

P.A. Cable.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26.

The Navy Department hks announced that two Japanese cruisers and a destroyer were damaged, and one cruiser probably damaged, and one possibly damaged, in the Solomons. The marines repulsed five attempts to break through the land defences on Guadalcanar. Twenty attacking Japanese planes were shot down in a single raid. The Japanese have landed more troops on north -west Guadalcanar. The marines on Guadalcanar have held off five attacks by the Japanese. A communique says that the enemy used tanks and put up a heavy barrage. The first four attacks were made at night, the marines destroying five enemy tanks. The fifth attack early in the morning was broken up by United States planes and artillery. On Friday morning the Japanese attacked the airfield on Guadalcanar with 16 bombers escorted by 20 fighters, One of the bombers was shot down, three others damaged, and the entire enemy fighter escort was destroyed. American dive-bombers damaged an enemy cruiser yesterday north of Florida Island. A Navy Department communique issued last night said that on Thursday night American long-range aircraft attacked enemy ships off Shortland Island. An enemy light cruiser was damaged by one direct hit and another suffered a probable torpedo hit. A destroyer was damaged by bombs, and a heavy cruiser or battleship was possibly damaged. All the planes returned safely.