JAPS INTERCEPTED

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVII, Issue 21, 27 January 1943, Page 5

JAPS INTERCEPTED

MET OFF GUADALCANAR IMPORTANT LAND CONQUEST

P.A. Gable.

WASHIN GTON, Jan. 26.

A Navy communique states: "On Monday a large force of Japanese diVe-bombers, twinengined bombers and flghters headed for Guadalcanar was intercepted and attacked by United States aircraft. The enemy planes were driven off, and no bombs were dropped on United States positions. "Four Japanese Zeros were shot down, but no United States planes were lost. "Two units oi the United States ground forces joined at at Kokun Bona, on Guadalcanar, after one unit had entered the village from along the beach to the east and the other had encircled a strong enemy pocket and entered from the south. The raanoeuvre resulted in giving the United States forces unrestricted use of Kokun Bona and the heach eastward. "The Japanese lost 293 killed and five taken prisoner during the operation. Seven 77mm. guns, two 37mm. guns, one tank, several trucks, three 40mm. anti-aircraft guns, and various other field pieces and small arms, were captured in the offensive operations against the enemy resist-an-ce." The Ame'ricans have captured Kokun Bona, which says the Asscciaited Press> is one of the greatest conquests of the American land forces in the Solomons. It advances the American front lines two or three miles beyond Point Cruz, depriving the enemy of a coastal point used in landing supplies and reinforcements. Furthermore, it considerably reduces the total area over which the enemy can manoeuvre and hide in tenacious attempts to maintain a toe-hold on Guadalcanar. The Americans are apparently pushing their front forward in an effort to bottle up and wipe out the dwindiing Japanese forces in the north-western end of the island.