RECENT TRIUMPH

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 3, 29 September 1942, Page 5

RECENT TRIUMPH

Outnumbered Marines On Guadalcanal

(Received September 28, 9.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, September 27.

Describing the fighting during midSeptember when the Japanese made an 'unsuccessful land assault in Guadalcanal, the United Press correspondent, Robert Miller, writing from Marine Headquarters in the Solomons on September 14, states: “The determined Japanese air, naval, and land assault, which has been 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 rendered artillery, support. “Simultaneously a three-pronged attack Was launched by many hundred veteran Japanese soldiers, Specially equipped for jungle fighting. The land action raged till today, when the Japanese, repulsed in the hand-to-hand fighting, retreated through the . juhgles to positions along the east and West ends of Guadalcanal, where they previously landed at night time. , “Over a considerable period our men thwarted every Japanese move. _ Marine and naval planes met the . increased tempo of air attacks by destroying 16 twin-engined bombers, 10 Zeros, and four float and nine reconnaissance planes. Our shore batteries effectively replied to the Japanese cruisers and destroyers which shelled the coast. “The marines were sometimes outnumbered 10 to one, but they finally forced the enemy to retire. The marines' losses were mostly wounded.” “The marines repulsed repeated , assaults against the vital Lunga Ridge, on the north-eastern side of tile island, whch was (be main avenue of approach to Henderson Field, down which the Japanese planned to moire.

Preliminary Drubbing. “A severe drubbing which was given the Japanese prior to the attack threw the entire operation out of. line. A marine raid bn September 8 had destroyed a large amount of Japanese arins and equipment which had been landed 30 miles down the coast, severely handicapping the Japanese. The forces concentrating on the western tip of Guadalcanal were hit simultaneously by planed, which destroyed 16 launches loaded with infantrymen, preventing the majority from landing. Another attack 24 hours later destroyed the remainder of the beached launches, crippling the enemy troops which planned - to push from the west to attack our right flank and seriously weakening them before they started. “The Japanese main attack was launched pn the night of September 13 at marines holding the fear three miles from the aerodrome. Preceded by smoko clouds, with which. they tried to screen their advance, the Japanese ran forward yelling ‘Gas attack.’ The ruse ' failed, and the JnpaheOe wefe beaten off. The marines fell back from the advanced ridge to consolidated positions, where they halted attack after attack, littering the ridges with enemy dead. The futile Japanese charges were met with maChihOiftin fire and grenades. “Finally, at dawn, the Japanese bad had enough, and they withdrew, leaving the battlefield strewn with scores of their dead.”