IN THE SOLOMONS BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 October 1942, Page 3

IN THE SOLOMONS BATTLE

Another Landing by Japanese on Guadalcanar INDICATIONS OF ALLIED AIR AND SEA WEAKNESS AMERICAN POSITIONS SAID TO BE THREATENED IN REAR LONDON, October 18. There is no fresh news of the land fighting on Guadalcanal’, where large forces of Japanese are attacking the United States positions commanding the vital airfield on the northern pait of the island. A United States Naw Department report, quoted m an earlier message from New York, read: ‘ ‘ Though large numbers of Japanese troops are known to be on Guadalcanar Island, there has been no full-scale fighting. Our land, sea and air forces of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps are engaged in meeting a 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.” “Ever-growing Japanese naval forces are closing m on Guadalcanar,” says the Washington correspondent of the “New York Tinies.” “Scant word has been received from the island, indicating that a lack of air and sea support has placed the American forces in a serious if not critical position. The Japanese bombing and artillery fire have apparently rendered Henderson airfield unusable. The Japanese have made a fresh landirfg on the south coast of Guadalcanar, and are advancing over the mountains against the rear of the American positions.