BATTLE FOR THE SOLOMONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 19 October 1942, Page 5

BATTLE FOR THE SOLOMONS

Serious Enemy Assault OUTCOME NOT YET DECIDED Rugby, Oct. 17. The United States Navy Department states: “Although large numbers of Japanese troops are known to be on Guadalcanar there has been no full-scale fighting. Our land, sea and air forces of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps are engaged in meeting serious enemy assault, the outcome of which is still undecided. Our losses have been minor, but in a battle of this nature losses must be expected. “The following details of action in recent days have been received. During an air attack on Guadalcanar on the afternoon of 1 2th October three enemy bombers and five fighters were shot down. On the night of 1 sth-1 6th October enemy surface vessels bombarded our positions on Guadalcanar for about an hour. Naval aircraft made a night torpedo attack on a group of enemy vessels eastward of the Solomons. A torpedo hit on an enemy cruiser is reported. On the morning of 16th October our aircraft from Guadalcanar attacked enemy troop positions along the north-west coast of the island. Late in the afternoon Navy and Marine Corps divebombers attacked two enemy transports and accompanying destroyers in an area west of New Georgia Island. Direct hits damaged and set fire to one transport and the second is believed to have been damaged by near misses. All information regarding the Solomons which is not of value to the enemy is being announced as soon as possible after being received.”

The ever-growing Japanese naval forces are closing in on Guadalcanar. The scant word received from the island indicates that lack of air

and sea support has placed the American forces in a serious if not critical position, says the Washington correspondent of the New York ••Times.” Japanese bombings and artillery fire have apparently' rendered Henderson airfield unusable. The Japanese have made a fresh landing on the south coast of Guadalcanar area, and are advancing over the mountains against the rear of American positions. The American land strength is not inown accurately, but recent reinforcements of men and tanks are bolstering the United States marines. One observer places the enemy land strength at 20.000, and says United States forces are about equal. Although enemy ships were reported in the Solomons area three days ago, this is the second day in which aerial attacks on Japanese vessels have not been mentioned. The only possible conclusion, sa5 T s the Washington correspondent of the New York “Times,” is that American air strength has been grounded by the destruction of planes or of the aerodrome’s runways. The Navy has not answered questions re-

garding the activities of American naval units. This means that either the Navy is pursuing a course which has not yet matured or insufficient heavy ships are available to go to the aid of the ground troops. If the Henderson field is unusable the nearest air base is Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides 500 miles ' distant, too far for operation fighters and dive-bombers. The other alternative is to send planes from carriers, but it is not known whether sufficient carrier strength is available. BIG JAPANESE FORCES A study of recent communiques indicates that the Japanese have mustered forces northward of the Solomons

in the last two months far greater than expected by those who planned the marines’ expedition against Guadalcanar. Despite the losses of 40 ships and 265 planes the Japanese sent to Guadalcanar in the last few days forces which are rapidly assuming proportions of a battle fleet. The defenders of Guadalcanar , aware of the force being sent there, again tried to ward it off with the airpower at their disposal but were overwhelmed. Marines defending Guadalcanar captured 40 American-built 75 millimetre guns recently. It is believed the Japanese captured these guns in the Philippines.—P.A. “TOUGH FIGHT,” SAYS COL. KNOX QUESTIONS AT PRESS CONFERENCE , Washington, Oct. 16. Tokio claims to have recaptured two important airfields in the Solomons, according to the Berlin radio. However, Henderson Airfield on Guadalcanar is stated here to be the only airfield in the American-occupied southern islands of the group. Asked at a Press conference if he thought the American positions in the Solomons could be held, Colonel Knox, Secretary of the Navy, replied: “I certainly hope so. I expect so. I don’t want to made predictions, but every man out there afloat and ashore will give a good account of himself.” When a reporter asked if his statement “I expect so” was a prediction. Colonel Knox replied: “Don’t pin me down on a specific word. There’s nothing I can say beyond the information in the communiques. There’s a real fight on out there. Of course, every American hopes we will win, but there’s no concealing we’re in a stiff, tough fight, and the result hasn’t yet been determined.”—P.A.

STRONG AIR SUPPORT

RAIDS ON ENEMY BASES WIDESPREAD DAMAGE CAUSED Sydney, Oct. 18. Allied aircraft of General MacArthur's South-West Pacific Command have been giving strong support to Vice-Admiral Ghormley’s Naval forces in the Solomons. Fifteen tons of bombs were dropped in a Flying Forttress raid on the main Japanese southward base of Rabaul shortly before dawn on Saturday. Widespread damage is believed to have been caused, but details of this ana other raids are lacking. Aerodromes at Buka and Buin in the northern Solomons have been heavily attacked at night by large formations of bombers. At Buka many fires were started and at Buin hits were scored on runways and among dispersed aircraft. The main purpose of these raids has undoubtedly been to neutralise the Japanese air strength in the Solomons battle, but attacks against enemy shipping have also been made. At Buin and Shortland Island Allied offensive reconnaissance units bombed two large Japanese transports

[but results could not be observed. —P A. | Special Australian Correspondent.

MARAUDERS ROUND KISKA

ENEMY SHIPS ATTACKED ONE PROBABLY SUNK, ONE ON FIRE (Rec. 9.20 a.m.) Rugby, Oct. 18. The United States Navy Department states: “Ten to fifteen Army Marauder bombers, Martin 26 bombers, attacked and damaged an enemy cargo ship in Gertrude Cove on the south coast of Kiska Island in the Aleutians. At least one direct hit set fire to the ship which was still burning several hours later. One United States plane was shot down by anti-aircraft fire. Marauder bombers also attacked two Japanese destroyers north-east of Kiska. Both were damaged, one by three hits natdhheoybertAhmbrfghmrf three hits and the other by one hit, resulting in the probable sinking of the former.” —8.0. W. REINFORCEMENTS FOR GARRISON New York, Oct. 18. Reconnaissance planes disclosed that the Japanese are reinforcing the Kiska garrison and building new installations on the south side of the island, says the Associated Press of America correspondent at Alaska headquarters. The Japanese are probably transferring troops to Kiska from the other Aleutian islands which have been found unfit for bases. —P.A.