ENGAGEMENT AT GUADALCANAR

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23747, 19 September 1942, Page 5

ENGAGEMENT AT GUADALCANAR

Japanese Wiped Out U.S. TANKS REPULSE INVASION (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright.) NEW YORK, September IT. “American tanks turned the battle of Tenaru, the first serious Japanese attempt to regain Guadalcanal into a massacre,” states Robert Miller, the correspondent of the United Press of America, in a dispatch from Marine Headquarters in the Solomons, "The Americans wiped but the entire Japanese landing force of 750. The American casualties were 28 killed and 72 wounded.

“The tanks rumbled down in single file towards the coconut palms where the Japanese *were hidden. There were only two things the Japanese could do

—run and be mown down with machine-guns, or lie low hoping that the tanks would miss them. It was pitiful to watch the Japanese trying to fight the tanks with rifles and machinegun bullets, which pinged off the armour plate without causing any harm." The correspondent of the "New York Times" on Guadalcanar (Mr Tillman Durdin) says that it is a month since the United Slates marines started the occupation of the Solomons. The Americans were so strongly in control of the conquered area that only a major Japanese expedition could have a chance of reconquering the area consisting of Tulagi, Gavutu, Tanambogo, and the 30 square miles surrounding the airfield at Guadalcanar. The special Australian correspondent of the New Zealand Press Association says that while operations in the New Guinea area continue, there is no further news in Australia of the Solomons fighting, in which the initial Japanese attacks are reported to have weakened. However, it is believed to be likely that the enemy will soon strike again, An American authority described the Solomons as "a self-baited trap for the Japanese, who cannot stay out of the danger zone without permitting the United Slates forces to plan and develop further moves.” Although to enter the zone is to expose the Japanese fleet to a damaging attack, it is considered that Japan has no alternative and must throw in major forces.

In spile of enemy warships, submarines, and aeroplanes, a steady stream of supplies has been reaching the American marines on the occupied islands. If numbers of torpedobombers are available, any sea attacks are likely to be disastrously costly to the enemy. American strategy is authoritatively described as one of attrition. Japan, which is unable to absorb sea losses like America, is losing to a far greater extent. The expectation is that the enemy must be goaded into risking major losses in grand-scale efforts to retrieve the islands, which are essential to his Pacific strategy. The developments in New Guinea will undoubtedly be linked with the fate of Japan’s moves in the Solomons,

JAPAN SENDING BATTLESHIPS

CHUNGKING REPORT (Rec. 1 a.in.) LONDON. Sept. 18. The Chungking correspondent of the United Press says: “Usually reliable sources report that the Japanese have dispatched a battleship flotilla to the Solomons, having probably decided to take the risk of a major naval battle with the United Slates forces m the South Pacific. “The reports said that lour or Japan's available .dreadnoughts had been assigned to the South Pacific. “The Chinese are of the opinion that Japan is taking this course because the Allied retention of the Solomons would mean future landings in New Britain, making the Japanese bases at Salamaua, Lae, and Buna untenable.”

RAIDS ON THE RUHR 5000 TONS OF BOMBS THIS MONTH LONDON, Sept, 17. Five thousand tons of bombs have been dropped on the Ruhr this month. This bombing has been carried on in spite of the German claims to have increased the anti-aircraft defences. British pilots report that many more anti-aircraft batteries have been encountered.

As 39 British machines were lost in last night's raid on the Ruhr, it is clear that a very heavy force went out. possibly approaching the 1000bomber scale. The Germans describe the attack as an ineffective nuisance raid, but they admit damage to buildings in several localities and also civilian casualties. , ~ _ , ... This was the Royal Air Force’s ninth heavy attack on Germany this month. The Royal Air Force has not previously carried out so many big raids in such a short period. All the German radios are emphasising the necessity for the strictest black-out. and they threaten severe punishment for all offenders. Commenting on the cumulative effects of these raids, the “Daily Telegraph” states: “The congestion of manufacture and coal and iron mines in the Ruhr and the Rhineland has hardly a parallel in any other country. No dispersal can alter the fact that the efficiency of this region is indispensable to the military power of Germany.” The Luftwaffe to-day appeared over Britain at dawn, noon and dusk, but the raidij did not venture beyond the coastline. Two Focke Wulfs at dawn damaged shops and houses in a southeast coast town, machine-gunned the streets, killed two. and injured several. Two more Focke Wulfs at noon raided another town, killed six, and injured several. A raider at dusk dived on an oast coast town and used its machineguns. but there were no casualties German long-range guns this afternoon fired five shells across the Straits into the Dover area. This afternoon two enemy bombers were over the south coast of England. Some damage was done, and there were a few casualties. One of the raiders was shot down by British fighters. A few enemy raiders were over East Anglia last night. They caused slight damage, but no casualties are reported. A raider last night bombed a north Scottish island. Four were injured. The Berlin radio claims that the Luftwaffe destroyed the barracks at Fair Isle between the Orkneys and the Shetlands, where other military installations were considerably damaged. Other aeroplanes bombed Harwick and Colchester and residential blocks at Rye. and set on fire the railway station at Eastbourne. A single Wellington bomber of the Polish Squadron yesterday fought a successful battle in the Bay of Biscay with a group of Junkers. One Junkers 88 was destroyed and four others were damaged. The battle started when the Junkers attacked the Wellington, which was engaged in submarine patrol, at sea level. Five enemy aircraft came in to attack,

and a sixth remained on the look-out for long-range British fighters. One was hit and dived into ihe sea, another was crippled, and the other three were hit and decided to call it a day. The Wellington, short of fuel, and hit in the starboard wing, air-screw, tail unit, and fuselage, reached home safely.