ENEMY FAILURE IN SOLOMONS

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23755, 29 September 1942, Page 5

ENEMY FAILURE IN SOLOMONS

ACCOUNT OF FIGHTING ON SEPTEMBER 15

JAPANESE AIR LOSSES (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright.)

(Rec. 10 p.m.) NEW YORK. Sept. 27. Describing the fighting in the Solomons. mentioned in an American communique on September 15, the correspondent of the United Press /ot America (Mr Robert Miller), writing .from the United States marines’ headquarters in the Solomons .on September 14, says: “The determined Japanese air. naval, and land assault, which was repulsed with heavy losses, "was aimed at the capture of Henderson Field, the aerial base on Guadalcanal “Japanese fighters and bombers attempted to soften the marine garrison for the attack, while Japanese naval units gave artillery support. Simultaneously, a three-pronged attack was launched by many hundreds of veteran Japanese soldiers specially equipped for jungle fighting. ■ “The land action raged until to-day (September 14). when the Japanese were repulsed in hand-to-hand fighting. They retreated through the jungles to positions along the east and west ends of Guadalcanar, where they had previously landed by night over a considerable period. “Our men thwarted every Japanese move. Mafine and naval aeroplanes met the increased tempo of air attacks by destroying 16 twin-engined bombers. 10 Zeros, four float planes, and nine reconnaissance planes. Our shore batteries effectively replied to the Japanese cruisers and destroyers which shelled the coast. “The marines were sometimes outnumbered forced the enemy to retire. The marine losses were mostly wounded. Repeated Assaults “The marines repulsed repeated assaults against the vital Lunga ridge on the north-east side of the island, which was the main avenue of approach to Henderson Field, down which the Japanese planned to move. “The severe drubbing given the Japanese before >the attack threw the entire operation out of line. The marine raid on September 8 destroyed a large amount of Japanese arms and equipment which had been landed 30 miles down the coast, severely handicapping the Japanese. Forces concentrating at the western tip of Guadalcanar were hit simultaneously by aeroplanes, which destroyed 16 launches loaded with infantry, preventing the majority from landing. Another attack 24 hours later destroyed the remainder of the beached launches, crippling the enemy troops, who were planning to push from the west to attack the right flank, and seriously weakening them before they started. “The Japanese main attack was launched on the night of September 13, against the marines holding the rear three miles from the aerodrome. Preceded by smoke clouds, with which they tried to screen their advance, the Japanese ran forward, yelling ‘gas attack.’ The ruse failed. The Japanese were beaten off and the marines fell back from an advanced ridge to consolidated positions where they halted attack after attack, littering the ridges with enemy dead. “Futile Japanese charges met machine-gun and rifle fire and grenades. Finally, at dawn, the Japanese had had enough and withdrew, leaving the battlefield strewn with scores of their dead.”

The correspondent says that American airmen operating from Kukum airfield on Guadalcanar had, up to September 16, shot down 127 Japanese aeroplanes, sunk two ships, and damaged five others, sunk 16 launches, and damaged vital ground installations. In four weeks 10 United States airmen destroyed 82 enemy aeroplanes. The American losses were 19 aeroplanes from which 16 men are missing.