NAVAL BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 October 1942, Page 3

NAVAL BATTLE

EXPECTED IN SOLOMONS OPERATIONS MOVING TOWARDS CLIMAX LOCATION OF AMERICAN UNITS. WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE OF JAPANESE FLEET. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, October 20. Operations in the Solomon Islands are now moving toward a climax. Evidence that United States naval units are now within striking distance of the Japanese fleet is found in the latest communique from Washington, received today. The United States Navy Department announced that American surface ships effectively bombarded the Japanese on north-western Guadalcanar in the Solomons, on Saturday morning. Japanese surface forces on Saturday night shelled American positions. On Sunday, when 40 Japanese planes made an attack over Guadalcanar, no fewer than 19 were shot down by Grumman Wildcats (Navy fighters). Though the two naval forces are operating in the same waters (the main American and Japanese shore positions are hardly more than 20 miles apart), there are no reports yet of any direct clash.

STARTLING STORIES

TOLD BY AMERICAN COMMENTATOR.

“SOME ASPECTS OF ANOTHER

HARBOUR.”

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, October 19. “The reason why military - reinforcements were not sent to the Solomon Islands long ago puzzles, military strategists," reports Drew Pearson, the “Washington Merry-Go-Round” columnist, pointing out that General MacArthur has had sufficient troops in Australia that could be spared for the Solomons. “Unfortunately, there is no unity of command between the Army and Navy in the South Pacific,” he says. “General MacArthur runs his own show m Australia, and there is apparently reluctance in the War Department or the White House to give General MacArthur orders. _ , . “Recently the United States naval commander in New Zealand, Hew to Australia and had a profitable visit to General MacArthur, and it is hoped that that friendly visit will have real results.” In a c'oast-to-coast broadcast, Mr Pearson emphasises the possibility that units of the American Navy, always desirous of luring the Japanese from their main bases, are lying in wait with large forces. He says that much speculation exists as to what is happening at the mysterious enemy base of Truk in the Carolines. On ly 1300 miles north of Guadalcanar, Truk has been stated to hold a garrison oi 250,000 troops, according to this commentator. • Pearson makes the startling charge that early American naval losses in the Solomons had some of the aspects of another Pearl Harbour. He declares that when the three American heavy cruisers, the Astoria, Quincy and Vincehnes, and the Australian cruiser Canberra were sunK on August 9, the American ships were not ready for action in spite of warning from reconnaissance units that a powerful Japanese flotilla was steaming against them at 30 knots. “The American commander, who had under-estimated the speed of the enemy approach was ashore conferring with the commander of the marines when the attack was launched against the helpless American ships at 15UU yards’ range,” he says. “These losses gave the Japanese naval superiority in the area.”

HARDJFIGHT COMMENT BY COLONEL KNOX. USE OF LAND-BASED PLANES. (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) WASHINGTON, October 20. The Secretary for the Navy, Colonel Knox, told a Press conference that the battle in the Solomons is still a good, stiff, hard fight. “In my judgment, he said, “the Japanese have by no means as yet exercised their maximum force.” j Colonel Knox added that he had nothing to add to the most re , c communique, announcing the sudden reappearance of American warships m the Solomons. He said communiques were being issued rapidly as information was received and indicated tha land-based aeroplanes will play a much greater part in naval activity in the Solomons. , Asked if he would comment upon the number of planes, Colonel Knox replied that such information could not be disclosed, but he could say that, the number of land-based planes used by the Navy was steadily increasing! Colonel Knox praised the Office of War Information report on the perioi mance of American planes and said it was extremely well done.