HEAVY BATTLE PROCEEDING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 16 October 1942, Page 5

HEAVY BATTLE PROCEEDING

In Guadalcanar Area JAPANESE REINFORCEMENTS LANDED Seven Enemy Ships Hit; 33 Planes Destroyed (Rcc. 10.15 a.m.) Washington, Oct. 15. A heavy battle is proceeding in the Guadalcanar area. A United States Navy communique issued to-day states: “l he Japanese succeeded in landing reinforcements on the north coast of Guadalcanar but 33 Japanese aircraft have been destroyed and seven Japanese ships hit, including a battleship. 1 his includes hits scored by aircraft and also by shore batteries which hit three destroyers which were among the Japanese force bombarding our positions on Guadalcanar on the night of 1 3th October. This force is believed to contain battleships, cruisers, destroyers and apparently is additional to the force which escorted the transports landing Japanese troops on the north coast of the island. The seriousne.ss with which the Navy

in tiie Solomons is emphasised by the speed with which the announcement was made says' the Washington correspondent of the Associated Press of America. Japanese activities contained a grim new significance not hitherto attached to their movements in the South-West Pacific. They have not previously succeeded in bombarding the air field or main installations. Furthermore. troops vere landed from transports covered by naval units, meaning undoubtedly that not only men. but artillery in which they were previously deficient, were got ashore and also supplies. The Washington correspondent of the New York “Times’ says it is possible that the renewed action lends some support to foreign reports that a large Japanese Fleet has moved into the South-West Pacific. Farts in the latest Navy communique even without elaboration by official sources, indicate the possible necessity of recasting the hitherto optimistic view of the Solomons action, if the Japanese are willing, as they seem to be, to expend all the force necessary and make any sacrifice in an attempt to recapture Guadalcanar air field. MARINES REINFORCED Mr Stimson, Secretary of War. told a Press conference that American Army ground and air forces recently arrived at Guadalcanar to reinforce the marines and seized important positions in the Solomons to which they are holding tenaciously against vigorous Japanese counter-attacks. Mr Stimson also said that substantial Army forces are now in the New

Hebrides, the Fijian islands and other points where their presence has not been disclosed previously. AH these forces were under the command of Air Force Major-General Millard Haramon, who has his headquarters in New Zealand and spent most of his time at the advanced base in New Caledonia. Army and Navy forces in this area are fighting in closest possible co-operation under the unified command of the Navy.— P.A.

JAPANESE TROOPS

MURE LANDINGS AT GLADALCANAR BOMBARDMENT OF AIRFIELD Washington, Oct. 14. Japanese troops from transports covered by naval units have been landed on the north coast of Guadalcanar, westward of the American positions. This is reported in a Navy communique, which adds that on the night of 13th-14th October Japanese surface vessels bombarded the air field and shore installations on Guadalcanar. The Associated Press of America says while the Navy made no interpretation of the facts reported in the communique, obviously the Japanese have rallied forces for a major effort to crush the American offensive in the Solomons. The first objective of such an undertaking would be the destruction and capture of the marine base at Guadalcanar It seemed certain, therefore, that a major battle on land and possibly at sea was impending.— P.A.

DETAILED REPORT

£ VENTS LEADING UP TO B ATTLE ! ENEMY AIK AND SEA ATTACKS JAPANESE BATTLESHIP DAMAGED (Rec. 12.25 p.m.) Rugby, Oct. 15. A full version of the United States i Navy communique reads: "Dispatches I from our forces in the South Pacific j reveals the following chronological de- : velopments leading up to the current | battle in the Guadalcanar area. On the i morning of 12th October Army Flying Fortresses bombed airfield and shore establishments on Buka Island. Fires j were started and 10 wrecked bombers and fighters were observed on the ground. Army bombers hit and set fire to one cargo ship at Bum Island and damaged another. Six enemy fighters were shot down. Navy and marine corps aircraft attacked enemy ships southward of New Georgia Island. "On the afternoon of 13th October the airfields at Guadalcanar were twice bombed by the enemy. Three enemy planes were shot down and one of our fighters was lost. By nightfall United States auxiliaries landed reinforcements , for our troops on Guadalcanar. Although the ships were attacked by enemy bombers no damage was suffered and our ships unloaded and withdrew. “During the night of 13th October the airfield and shore installations on

Guadalcanar were heavily bombarded by an enemy surface force believed to contain battleships, cruisers and destroyers. Shore batteries scorde three hits on enemy destroyers during the bombardment. "On the 14th October Guadalcanar airfield was attacked by two separate groups of enemy bombers each with fighter escort. Our fighters were unable to intercept the first flight which contained about 25 aircraft During the second attack we shot down 9 of 15 bombers and also destroyed four fighters. We lost one fighter, r "Early on the morning of 15th Octobe enemy transports escorted by destroyers, cruisers and one battleship were sighted off Savo Island. This force proceeded to land troops on the north

roast of Guadalcanar westward of our airfield. An aircraft striking group attacked the enemy ships, making three direct hits on one transport while two other transports were left burning. A Japanese battleship was damaged and lone enemy fighter destroyed. Other enemy forces, including heavy units, have been sighted in the vicinity of Guadalcanal'.—B.O.W. COMPARISON OF LOSSES Washington, Oct. 14. I A summary of Japanese sinkings in the battle for the Solomons, based on United States Navy figures, is:— JAPANESE SUNK: One heavy cruiser, six destroyers, one transport. PROBABLY SUNK: One heavy cruiser, six destroyers, one transport. DAMAGED: Two aircraft carriers, one battleship, three heavy cruisers, 12 light cruisers, six destroyers, three aircraft-tenders, four transports, two cargo ships and others. UNITED STATES SUNK: Three cruisers, three destroyers, and four transports. (The Australian heavy cruiser Canberra was also sunk in the Solomons.) American vessels have also suffered some damage in this week’s naval action in the Solomons, but particulars of the ships and the extent of the damage have not been officially reported.—P.A.

CHEERING NEWS

| SYDNEY PRESS COMMENT BATTLE OF ATTRITION Sydney, Oct. 15. j "Tlie continuing air and naval battle I in the Solomons has already in the aggregate begun to assume dimensions ot an action which may prove decisive in the Pacific war at sea." says the SydI nev "Morning Herald.” commenting on the latest cheering news from the South-West Pacific fronts. Australian war news analysts see the battle for the Solomons as one of attrition, with Japanese losses in ships and aircraft now amounted to a total I which must prove gravely embarrassjmg to the enemy. It is pointed out that recent reports of South-West Pacificactions revealed the existence of American bases in the New Hebrides and Fiji considerably strengthening the Allied position in this theatre While no information of the size or type of these bases has been given, both American and Australian observers regard their now officially acknowledged existence as proof of Allied determination to pursue a vigorous offensive policy against the Japanese. A Washington report states that 1 Espiritu Santo Island in the New , Hebrides is the air base from which 1 some air force units are assisting the marines at Guadalcanar. LAND-BASED AIR POWER j Emphasising again the great import- i ! ance of land-based air power in which j j supremacy has lain so decisively with j | the Allies, the Sydney "Morning Her- I laid” says: "The initiative which the! J Japanese has striven to assert on sea ■ [ and land has been constantly baffled j and crippled by the Allies* initiative in j the air, a revelation which should asI sure the Solomons battle of a leading ! place in the future study of the amphibious tactics of war. "Enemy unwillingness to risk a major fleet action in which carriers and battleships would participate is generally commented upon. It is pointed out that attrition fighting into which the Japanese have been led by the Americans has already cost Japanese losses equivalent to those of a major fleet action fought in vain. But observers agree that the Japanese have still substantial sea power available and must j either risk a battle or admit defeat in j a contest wherein the stakes are much more than the Solomons. "If our Allies | have not yet fully succeeded in getting the enemy navally speaking where they want him.” says the "Herald.” "at least (they so far have outwitted, outl manoeuvred and outfought him in the 1 shrewdest skin game this war has yet j produced.” | "The stake for an Allied victory in J the Solomons is more than relative se- ! curity for Australia and New Zealand, j and their supply lines from America. I says the Sydney "Daily Telegraph.” "If

Japanese lose the bitter fight for these strategic islands the Allied defence line in the South-West Pacific will be advanced to a new line running from Port Moresby to Guadalcanar. This would outflank the Japanese base at Rabaul and probably force the enemy’s main concentrations back to Truk, 1000 miles to the north.”—P.A. Special Australian Correspondent.

BELATED ADMISSION

LOSS OF U.S. CRUISERS SHARP PRESS CRITICISM (Rec. 12.40 p.m.) Ne w York, Oct. 15. Newspapers strongly criticise the 65day delay in announcing the Joss of thiee United States cruisers in the Solomons. They were lost on 9th August in the same engagement as H.M.S. Canberra, Joss of which was announced in Australia ten days later. "The delayed announcement raises the whole question of the wisdom of our war censorship and information policy,” says the "New York Times,” which declares that a fuller statement on the naval losses at Pearl Harbour is now long overdue. There is strong reason to doubt that the delay of such length in announcing the loss of three cruisers is justified. Accounts make it seem probable that the Japanese had a fair notion of the damage they had done. Although their claims that day were extravagant they specifically included as sunk two heavy cruisers cf the Astoria class and two more cruisers of the Aus-

tralia class. Mr Curtin, Prime Minis- ! terof Australia, waited only ten days | before admitting the loss of the Can- ' berra. The United States Navy declared its own statement would be delayed until replacements were sent. The ’ fact that the belated admission of the losses came just the day before the ani nouncement of the sinking of a Japanese | cruiser and four destroyers wil 1 lead many to conclude —however unjustly—j that bad news was held up in this case j until there was good news to offset it.” | The New York “Daily News” says: "News from the Solomons is so slow in I coming through that we cannot help , wondering why it is not'until 65 days | after the event that the American peo- ! pic are notified of the loss of three big ; j cruisers.”—P.A.