HEAVILY DAMAGED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 October 1942, Page 4

HEAVILY DAMAGED

NUMBER 1 OF JAPANESE , WARSHIPS ACCORDING TO COLUMBIA RADIO. POSITION ON GUADALCANAL. (By Telegrnnh—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.35 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. United States warships and planes have heavily damaged a Japanese battleship, an aircraftcarrier, a cruiser and a destroyer, according to a report by the Columbia Broadcasting Company of New York. The action took place off the Stewart Islands, north-west of Santa Cruz. The report states that other United States torpedo-carrying aircraft, operating 600 miles north of the Stewart Islands, damaged a Japanese aircraft-carrier and a cruiser. Richard Turner, the American Associated Press Washington corresponddeiit, says a note of optimism is now distinctly noticeable in the United States Navy Department. “These men are in a position to know more of the facts than anyone else in Washington,” adds the correspondent. A further unofficial report from Washington says the Japanese have been able to make landing in force on Guadalcanal and that the American troops there are now surrounded on three sides. A message from Pearl Harbour says everything depends on the Allies getting reinforcements to Guadalcanal quickly. AMERICAN POSITIONS PENETRATED AT ONE POINT AT GUADALCANAL. COUNTER-ATTACK REGAINS GROUND. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, October 29. The Japanese have made further thrusts against the American positions on Guadalcanal. One attack penetrated the American lines, but a successful counter-attack restored the original positions. Two more enemy thrusts have also been repelled. There are no reports of any recent naval activity. American planes from Guadalcanal successfully raided enemy shore installations and aircraft in the Solomons area. NO NEWS OF RECENT ENEMY LANDINGS. ACCORDING TO AMERICAN NAVY DEPARTMENT. (Received This Day, 1 p.m.) WASHINGTON, October 29. A Navy Department communique says: “During Tuesday morning our aircraft from Guadalcanal attacked enemy shore installations and aircraft moored in Rekata Bay. Fires were started and four seaplanes were destroyed on the water. During the day, aircraft from Guadalcanal bombed enemy gun positions westward of our airfield. An anti-aircraft battery and an ammunition dump were destroyed. Late in the afternoon an enemy assault on our positions succeeded in piercing our lines, but Army and Marine Corps troops successfully counter-attacked and our original positions were regained. Two additional enemy thrusts were repulsed. - 4 “No reports of any recent action at sea or the landing of enemy troop reinforcements have been received.”* The Navy Department said the foregoing news was received only today.