DESPERATE DECISION

Evening Star, Issue 25620, 22 October 1945, Page 5

DESPERATE DECISION

LANDING ON GUADALCANAL

MONTH EARLIER THAN PLANNED WASHINGTON, October 20. Admiral King said the United) States planned to land on Guadalcanal in September, 1942, but learned the Japanese were building up 'their strength preparatory to moving south on August 15, to attack New Caledonia, thereby cutting communications with Australia. Hence the landing was rushed to August 7.

“ The decision was the war’s most desperate one because we were compelled to move with less than we needed and sooner than could reasonably be expected. Then came the Battle of Salvo Island on August 8. when we lost four cruisers. I remember I could not believe the despatch, and told them to decode it again. It was for me the war’s blackest day. The whole future became unpredictable.”

Asked whether the blame had been assessed for the loss of the cruisers, Admiral King said: “We would have held a board of inquiry promptly, but international aspects were involved, including the morale of the united war effort. A British Admiral commanded the force and one of the cruisers was Australian. Eventually we appointed a retired British naval officer, who was recalled to active service, to constitute a one-man court of inquiry. He found there were many reasons for the disaster, one of which was inexperience in war, We were all inexperienced then.”