TOLL ON ENEMY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 306, 8 October 1942, Page 3

TOLL ON ENEMY.

ATTACKS IN THE SOLOMONS. PLANES DOWNED, CRUISER DAMAGED. SYDNEY. Oct. 7. Eleven Japanese aeroplanes have been destroyed and a Japanese heavy cruiser damaged by the United States Air Forces, in the Solomons. latest enemy losses are recorded in a United States Navy communique just issued from Washington. The communique also admits further Japanese landings on Guadalcanal* Island, the main base of the United States marines in the Solomons.

The enemy cruiser was hit at least twice with torpedoes and once with bombs.

United States Navy and Marine Corps dive-bombers also attacked (several Japanese destroyers, with unobserved results. Two American aeroplanes were lost in this attack.

A small group of enemy bombers preceded by 30 Zeros, attempted’ to raid installations on Guadaleanar on October 3, says: the communique. Navy Wildcat fighters shot down nine Japanese fighers, while- two were destroyed by anti-aircraft fire. The enemy bombers turned back without dropping their bombs. One American aeroplane was lost, but the pilot was saved. f

The communique says that the Japanese cruiser and the destroyers were attacked while landing enemy troop reinforcements on Guadalcanal American dive-bombersi also bombed and strafed enemy troops and supply dumps. There had been little activity between the ground forces on Guadalcanal’ up to October 4, but the enemy continued to land small detachments of troops under cover of darkness. In 10 days up to last Sunday, losses inflicted on the Japanese in the Solomons area include 63 aeroplanes dsr stroyed and others damaged, three cruisers damaged, one destroyer damaged, one seaplane tender damaged, and one large transport set on fire and probably sunk. In the last 24 hours medium bombers of General MacArthur’s command have attacked Japanese airfields at Buin and Buka in the northern Solomons. The results at Buin were not. observed, but at Buka demolition and incendiary bombs were scattered over the target areas, scoring hits on runways, dispersal areas, adjacent buildings, and anti-aircraft positions, and causing fires and explosions.