FIGHTING SLACKENS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 October 1942, Page 3

FIGHTING SLACKENS

FOLLOWING ON JAPANESE FAILURE TO BREACH DEFENCES ON GUADALCANAL TWELVE ENEMY LIGHT TANKS DESTROYED. AMERICAN AIR AND OTH^ 3 ATTACKS. LONDON, October 30. In the Solomons, fighting on Guadalcanal has slacken- . ed, following' 1 lie failure of the Japanese to break the American Liefences. Washington reported tonight that on Wednesday there were only small skirmishes with enemy patrols. Twelve light Japanese tanks have been destroyed in the fighting of the last week. American planes have kept up their attacks on the enemy west of the airfield. Enemy bombers in the early morning attacked the American positions, but all their bombs fell into the water.

Further north, American aircraft from Guadalcanal destroyed two enemy seaplanes in a daylight attack. Last night American motor torpedo-boats scored a hit on a destroyer, which was thought to be engaged in reinforcing or supplying the enemy troops in Guadalcanal. FIRST ROUND OVER RETIREMENT OF JAPANESE FLEET. REPORTED STATEMENT BY COLONEL KNOX. (Received This Day. 1.0 p.m.) (British Official Wireless.l RUGBY, October 30. “The first round of the Solomons battle is over and the Japanese fleet has retired from the scene,’’ said Colonel Knox, Secretary for the Navy, according to a Washington message. , MOVING EASTWARD AIR AND SEA BATTLE. TOWARDS THE NEW HEBRIDES AND FIJI. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, October 29. The latest reports from the Solomon Islands theatre suggest that the sea and air battle is moving eastward toward the New Hebrides and Fiji groups. This view is strengthened by a statement from Washington that Japanese naval vessels have been attacked by Allied planes “north of the Fijis.” The Australian Broadcasting Commission quotes its Washington correspondent as saying that the Solomons battle stretches over hundreds of miles to the east, and that United States aircraft are in action 400 miles north-east of Guadalcanal and north of the New Hebrides and Fiji. Strong Japanese forces have been attacked. According to American sources, Japan has now had one-fourth of her warships sunk or damaged since Pearl Harbour, while the United States has had 63 warships sunk or damaged. The number of Japanese planes destroyed in the Solomons since August 7 is now given as 404. The comparative sea losses for the Solomons are: Japanese, 76 ships sunk or damaged; United States, 14 ships sunk and an unstated number damaged. JAPAN GAMBLING ON MAINTENANCE OF POWER AT SEA. LONDON, October 30. Unofficial reports slate that the Japanese have some 20,000 to 30,000 troops on Guadalcanal. The editor of the "Pacific Islands Monthly” states that the situation is not one for optimism. It is Tulagi that the Japanese specially want to recapture, because it would be an essential Japanese base if they want to take Australia and New Zealand. In the big attempt to recapture Tulagi the Japanese are operating with a supply line of 4000 miles, and are gambling as nations have seldom gambled before on maintaining their power at sea. ATTACK WEAKENED BY DIVISION OF COMMAND. ACCORDING TO AMERICAN CORRESPONDENT. NEW YORK, October 29. “General MacArthur’s airmen are apparently not permitted to continue the hammering blows against the southern Solomons, though General MacArthur is obviousy anxious to aid the Solomons campaign wherever possible,” comments the Australian correspondent of the New York “Daily News,” Jack Turcott. This leads to the inevitable conclusion that America's top strategists are not willing to permit General MacArthur to share in the public recognition in participating in the Solomons. “General MacArthur has never publicly complained about the division of command nor indicated displeasure when Washington took New Caledonia, New Zealand, the New Hebrides and the Solomons from his jurisdiction, but the aerial activities reflect the result. Since August 7 General MacArthur’s air force has raided bases in the northern Solomons only. Though the pilots are itching to strike the Japanese fleet at Guadalcanal and Tulagi, such assistance is impossible under the divided command.”