Complete Success of U.S. Operations

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 207, 31 August 1942, Page 5

Complete Success of U.S. Operations

Heavy Losses Inflicted on Enemy <6y Telegraph—Press Assn.— Copyright.) Received Sunday, 9.20 p.m. WASHINGTON, Aufl. 29. “The position of our forces in the Guadaicanar-Tulagi area has been sutficientiy well established to warrant the release of details of the action in the Solomons wnich has been in progress since the early morning of August /» states a Navy communique, "our approach to the area of operations was accomplished under cover of an overcast sKy making aerial reconaissance n^ilcuit. -On tne night of Mugust 6 the weatner cleared and our transports and screening forces proceeded unopposed. The actual landing operations commenced eariy in the morning of the 7th under the strong protection of carrier-based aircraft anu supporting fire from surface vessels, a complete surprise was affecteu and beacnheads were soon established. Varying degrees of resistance were encountered. n.gntrail our troops were in possession or a strong tseacnhsad in the Tenaru Kiver region of Guadalcanar, hau captured most of Tulagi, ail of Gavutu and occupied a position at Halabo on * Florida. During the night and early the following morning the island of Tanambodo wnich was connected with Gavutu by a causeway was taken in the face *n strong opposition. “Before, and during and after these attacks long-range Army bombers were engaged in co-ordinated search operations and these bombers delivered heavy attacks on enemy ships and air bases in New Britain, New Guinea and the Solomons areas. “Our operations on the 7th resulted in heavy loss to the enemy in both men and aircraft, also the loss of control or all vital positions in the GuadalcanarTulagi area and the loss of large quantities of supplies when the positions were surrendered. “We suffered one destroyer damaged but our losses id men and aircraft were moderate during the first day's operations. “On the night of the 7th and the following morning supplies and equipment were hurriedly unloaded from ships and sent ashore to assist our patrols In consolidating their gains. Forty or more ertemy torpedo planes attacked our ships in the hafbour on the Bth hitting a destroyer and an unloaded transport. The enemy lost 14 planes. “During enemy air attacks on the 7th and Bth our carrier planes and ack-acks shot down 47 Japanese planes. “By sundown on the Bth the area occupied on Guadalcanar had been expanded and the airfield whicn the Japanese had nearly completed had been captured. Enemy resistance on Tulagi, Gavutu and Tanambodo had been overcome and equipment was captured which the Japanese were using to develop the Mador Naval Base. “’Japanese surface vessels made a strong attempt to disrupt the unloading of transports and cargo ships on the night of the Bth. Our cruisers and destroyers intercepted the attack and forced the enemy to retreat before reaching tne vessels engaged in the landing operations. Close-range lighting in this action resulted In damage to tne enemy and our forces. By the following night unloading operations were completed and our transports and cargo snips left the area. “The marines had cvercome all major opposition in Guadalcanar, Tulagi, Gavutu, Tanambodo, Makambo and a portion of Florida by noon on the 10th. Mopping up operations have continued to date. “Several small contingents of enemy troops have been landed on the islands we hold. The largest landing was made by 700 troops on Guadalcanar on the 21st. Our positions were bombarded by surface cratt, submarines and aircraft but our losses as a result of these attacks have been smalt. Every enemy attempt to recapture the lost positions resuited in the complete annihilation or capture of all the troops that landed. “Reconnaissance aircraft on the 23rd observed Several detachments of enemy ships, including transports, approaching Guadalcanar but an action at sea endeu in the withdrawal of the enemy surface forces. While this action was in progress the enemy made three strong air attacks on Guadalcanar but were repulsed by our aircraft operating from the captured airfield.”