MAJOR ATTEMPT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 241, 12 October 1942, Page 3

MAJOR ATTEMPT

SMASH SPEARHEAD

Jap. Landings With Heavy

Naval Support

Lnited Press Association—Copyright NEW YORK, Oct. 11

The latest .Japanese landings on Guadaleanar Island, accomplished with strong naval support, clearly were part, of extensive preparations for a major attempt to smash the spearhead of the American offensive in the Solomons, savs the Washington correspondent of the Associated Press.

Japanese troops landed on the north-western shore of Guadalcanal' Island, from which they are expected to strike in force across the mountainous wilds against the marines' defence positions around the aerodrome regardless of the fury of an enemy attack.

Only the spearheads of the opposing sides have so far made contact in the Pacific, says the military correspondent of the New York Times. Hanson Baldwin. He points out that both sides are so limited by tremendous ocean distances to the "small and difficult island battlefields that it almost impossible to bring the major strength of their side into actual contact.

The enemy has great numbers of troops employed in garrison and supply duties. Large air and naval forces on both sides must be used to protect convoys. The result is that the spearheads of both sides have thrust out in New Guinea, the Solomons and the Aleutians. These lands are small in size, yet great forces are massed which may never see action, but which have made the spearheads possible.

FAITH IN VICTORY

President Roosevelt's Columbus Day Speech DETERMINE WORLD PROGRESS British Official Wireless Rec. 1 p.m. RUGBY, Oct. 11. "We are in the midst of mankind's greatest war—a war to determine whether the march of progress shall proceed or be halted by totality of conquest," said President Roosevelt, in the course of a statement in connection with the celebration of Columbus Day.

"An American victory." he added, "will be a United Nations victory, and a victory for the oppressed and enslaved people everywhere."

The President concluded: "I like to remember on this significant anniversary the words of a contemporary poet—'Columbus found the world and had no chart save the one that faith deciphered in the skies.' We have the faith. Deeds will implement it."