SOLOMONS CAMPAIGN

Grey River Argus, 7 October 1942, Page 5

SOLOMONS CAMPAIGN

Ten Jap Planes DESTROYED IN FOUR DAYS 8.0.W. RUGBY. October 5. A United States Navy Solomons communique stated: Enemy shore installations at Rekata Bay were also bombed and strafed. Two enemy seaplanes were destroyed. Fires were pbserved. In another raid, here, our divebombers set fire to munitions dumps and damaged two' enemy aircraft. Flying Fortresses set fire to a small boat off Greenwich Island, at the (south-east ' end of Malaita Island, while our dive-bombers continued attacks on enemy troop concentrations and supply dumps on Guadalcar. U.S.A. RAIDS. (Rec. 10.50) WASHINGTON, Oct. 5. The U.S. Navy Department has announced that American fighter planes have destroyed ten Japanese planes and damaged two more Japanese planes, and have also damaged a Japanese destroyer in a period of four days last week. Japanese Navy IS IT HANGING BaCK ? [Special to N.Z. Press Assn.] SYDNEY. October 6. The Sydney "Morning Herald’s” military correspondent says: Since her disastrous losses at Midway Island, Japan has not shown any willingness to meet the Americans in a large scale naval action. In the- South-west Pacific, she is now carrying this to a point where it is interfering with her land strategy. Japan can hardly hope to achieve any further gains,, and perhaps cannot even maintain her earlier conquests, unless she is prepared to accept the hazard of naval battle,” he adds. Naval Battle ? IN THE SOLOMONS AXIS REPORTS DENIED. SYDNEY. October 6. The Berlin radio states that a great naval battle is being fought off the Solomons Islands. This report is regarded in Sydney with scepticism. The United States Navy Department has declined to comment on this report. The 8.8. C. says that London demes knowledge of any large scale Pacific naval action. The Japanese Naw spokesman. Admiral Hiraide, has stated that operations in the Solomons have cost the United States "several aircraft carriers, ten transports, and ten othernaval craft.” , , , The United States Naw has refused to comment on Admiral’s Hiraide s statement. , . In Sydney. Admiral Hiraide’s statement is regarded as one intended for morale boosting and for home consumption. U.S. SUBMARINE LOST. 8.0.W. RUGBY, Octpber 5. The Navy Department at Washington announced that. the submarine "Grunion” is overdue in the Pacmc and must be presumed to be lost. This • is the fifth American submarine lost. 1 Enemy Landings ON GUADALCANAL U.S. MARINES’ AIR SUCCESS LONDON, October 5. A United States naval communique states: The U.S. marines are maintaining their positions on Guadalcanal.’' Our air forces are continuing to attack the enemy over a wide area. Clashes with enemy patrols have been frequent. There is no major change in the position. Despite our determined attacks, it has not been possible to prevent the enemy landing small troop reinforcements on Guadalcanal under cover of darkness. Small groups of Japanese heavy tombers. with a strong fighter escort raided our positions here. Our fighters snot down four enemy fighters and fo<eed the bombers to jettison their bombs before reaching their objective. Navy and Marine Corps dive-bombers, assisted by Army pursuit raided small craft carrying supplies and troops to Guadalcanal, and also bombed and strafed enemy troops and equipment ashore. More Japanese LANDED ON GUADALCANAL (Rec. 10.50) WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 The U.S. Navy has announced that the Japanese have succeeded in landing small reinforcements on Guadalcanal Island at night time, but adds that American marines are maintaining their positions. JAP. RAID FAILS. AT GUADALCANAR. LONDON, October 5. A United States Naw communique from the Solomons stated: On Friday last, October 2. that Japanese again attacked Guadalcanar with a small group of bombers, heavily escorted by fighters. Our interceptors shot down ’four enemy fighters. Na bombs were dropped. »