SOLOMONS BATTLE

Evening Star, Issue 24329, 19 October 1942, Page 3

SOLOMONS BATTLE

Position Regarded As Serious

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

NEW YORK, October 17

Although enemy ships were reported In the Solomons area three days ago, this is the second day on which air attacks on Japanese vessels have not (been mentioned. The .only possible conclusion, says the Washington correspondent of the ‘ New York Times,’ is that 'American air strength has been grouned, and this raises questions regarding the activities of the American naval unite. This means either that the navy ’is pursuing a course which has not yet matured, or insufficient heavy ships are available to go to the aid of the ground troops. If the Hen- ■ demon field, miles distant, is too far for the operation of fighters and dive bombers, the other alternative is to send planes from carriers, but it is not known whether sufficient carrier . strength is available. A study of recent communiques indicates that the Japanese have mustered a force to the north of the Solomons in the last two months far greater than ; was expected by-those who planned the t marines’ expedition against Guadalcanal. In spite of . the Toss of 40 ships and 265 planes, the Japanese have sent to Guadalcanal in the last few days forces which are rapidly assuming the ' proportions of a battle fleet. Th(f defenders of Guadalcanal were aware that a force was being sent there, and again tried to ward it off with the air power at their disposal, but were overwhelmed.

The United States Navy Department says: “ Although large numbers of Japanese troops are known to he on Guadalcanal, there has been no full-scale fighting. Our land, sea, v and air forces of the army, navy,; and Marine Corps are engaged m meeting a serious enemy assault, the outcome of which is still undecided. Our losses have been minor, but in a battle, of this nature losses must be expected. The following de--tails of the action of recent days have been received: —During an air attack on Guadalcanal on the afternoon of October 12 three enemy bombers and five fighters were shot flown. On the night of October 15-16 enemy surface vessels bombarded our position on Guadalcanal for about an hour. Naval

aircraft • made a night torpedo attack ■ r( pn'» group of-enemy vessels-to the -! Veast “of'the' Solomons. A torpedo hit on an enemy <cru'iser is reported. “ On the morning of October TG our aircraft from Guadalcanal attacked

enemy troops in a position along the coast of the island. Late in the afternoon navy and Marine Corps dive bombers attacked two enemy transports and accompanying destroyers in an aera west of New Georgia Island,

Fresh Japanese Landings

Ever-growing Japanese naval forces are closing in on Guadalcanal. The scanty news received from the island indicates, says the Washington correspondent of the ‘ New York Times,’’ that a lack of air and sea support has placed the American forces in a serious, if not critical, position. Japanese bombings and artillery, fire have apparently rendered the Henderson airfield useless.

The Japanese have made a fresh landing on the south coast of Guadalcanal, and are advancing over the mountain against the rear of the American positions. The American land strength is not known accurately, but recent reinforcements of men and tanks are bolstering the United States marines. One observer places the enemy land strength at 20,000, and says the United States forces are about equal. •

and direct hits damaged and set on fire one transport, and a second is believed to have been damaged by near misses. AH information regarding the Solomons which is not of value to the enemy is being announced as soon as possible after it is received.” allled air support. Allied aircraft of General MacArthur’s South-West Pacific command have been giving strong support to Vice-Admiral Ghormley’s forces in the Solomons. Fifteen tons of bombs were dropped in a Flying Fortress raid on the main Japanese southern base at Rabaul shortly before dawn on Saturday, and widespread damage is believed to have been caused, but details of this and other raids are lacking. Aerodromes at Buka and Buin, in the Northern Solomons, have been heavily attacked at night by large formations of bombers. At Buka many fires were started, and at Buin hits were scored on runways among dispersed aircraft. The main purpose of these raids has undoubtedly been to neutralise Japanese air strength m the Solomons battle, but attacks against enemy shipping have also been made. At Buin, on Shortland Island, Allied offensive reconnaissance units bombed two large Japanese transports, but the results could not be observed.

Tokio claims, to have recaptured two important airfields in the Solomons, according to the Berlin radio. The Henderson aisfield, 'on Guadalcanal, is, however, stated here to be the only airfield in the American-occupied southern islands of the group. COLONEL KNOX RETICENT. • Asked at a Press conference if he thought the American positions in the Solomons could be held, the Secretary of the -Navy, Colonel Knox, replied: “I certainly hope so and expect so. I don’t want to make predictions, but every man out there, afloat and ashore, will give a good account of himself.” When a reporter asked if his statement “ I expect so ” was a prediction, Colonel Knox replied: “ Don’t pin me down on a specific word. There is nothing I can say beyond the information in the communiques. There is a real fight on oiit there. Of every American hopes we will win, but there is no concealing the fact that we are in a stiff, tough fight, and the result has not yet been determined.” The marines defending Guadalcanal captured 40 American-built 75-milli-metre guns recently. It is believed that the Japanese captured these guns ■in the Philippines.