SOLOMONS LANDINGS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 31 August 1942, Page 5

SOLOMONS LANDINGS

ENEMY COMPLETELY SURPRISED VARYING DEGREES OF RESISTANCE Washington, Aug. 29. “The position of our forces in the Guadalcanar-Tulagi area has been sufficiently well established to warrant the release of details of the action in the Solomons which has been in progress since early in the morning of 7th August,” states a Navy communique. “Our approach to the area of operations was accomplished under cover of overcast weather, making aerial reconnaissance difficult. On the night of 6th August the weather cleared and our transports and screening forces proceeded unopposed.

“Actual landing operations commenced early on the morning of 7th August under a strong protection of carrier-based aircraft and supporting fire from surface vessels. A complete surprise was effected and beachheads soon established. Varying degrees of resistance were encountered. By nightfall our troops were in possession of a strong beachhead in-the Tenaru river region. Guadalcanar had been captured, and most of Tulagi, all of Gavutu, and we had occupied a position at Halabo, on Florida. During the night and early the following morning the island of Tanambodo, which is connected with Gavutu by a causeway, was taken in the face of strong opposition. SEARCH OPERATIONS Before, during and after these attacks, long-range army bombers engaged in co-ordinated search operations. These bombers delivered heavy attacks on enemy ships and air bases in New Britain, New Guinea and the Solomons area. Our operations on 7th August resulted in heavy loss to the enemy in both men and aircraft, also loss of control of all the vital positions in the Guadalcanar-Tulagi area and loss of large quantities of supplies when the positions surrendered. We suffered one destroyer damaged, but our losses in men and aircraft were moderate during the first day’s operations. “On the night of 7th August and the following morning supplies and equipment were hurriedly unloaded from the ships and sent ashore to assist our patrols in consolidating the gains. Forty or more enemy torpedo planes attacked ships in the harbour on Bth August, hitting a destroyer and an unloaded transport. The enemy lost 14 planes. During enemy air attacks on 7th and Bth August our carrier-planes and ackacks shot down 47 Japanese planes. By sundown on Bth August the area occupied on Guadalcanar had been expanded and the airfield which the Japanese had nearly completed captured. ENEMY RESISTANCE OVERCOME Enemy resistance at Tulagi, Gavutu and Tanambodo had been overcome and equipment 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 Bth August. Our cruisers and destroyers intercepted the attack and forced the enemy to retreat before reaching the vessels engaged in landing operations. Closerange fighting in this cation resulted in damage to the enemy and our forces. By the following night the unloading operations were completed and our transports and cargo ships had left the area. By noon of 10th August the marines had overcome all major opposition in Guadalcanar, Tulagi, Gavutu, Tanambodo, Makambo and a portion of Florida. 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 21st August. Our positions were bombarded by surface craft, submarines and aircraft, but losses as a result of these attacks have been small. Every enemy attempt to recapture the lost positions has resulted in the complete annihilation or capture of all troops that landed. Reconnaissance aircraft on 23rd August observed several detachments of enemy ships, including transports, approaching Guadalcanar. An action at sea ended 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 a captured airfield.”— ANNIHILATED OR CAPTURED (Rec. 9.10 a.m.) Washington, Aug. 29. The Navy announced that marines holding six Solomon islands annihilated or captured all the Japanese troops who landed in attempts to recapture islands.—P.A.