AT GUADALCANAR

Grey River Argus, 23 November 1942, Page 5

AT GUADALCANAR

U.S. HOLD SECURE. WASHINGTON, Nov. 21. The United States Secretary of the Navy (Colonel Knox) said in Washington yesterday that the American hold on Guadalcanar, in the Solomons, was now very secure. It is now estimated that about 1500 Japanese troop reinforcements were landed near Tetere during the night of November 2-3. As -announced in a previous communique, about naif of these enemy troops have since been killed and the remainder have disoersed into the jungle. A Navy communique issued m Washington states that on November 18 Army Flying Fortresses attacked Japanese cargo vessels in the Blin area. Two hits were- scored. len Zero fighters and two float biplanes were shot down. A group of Army Marauders aiso attacked cargo vessels in the same area. Two Zeros were shot down.

American Attacks

ON GUADALCANAR. (Rec. 6.30.) WASHINGTON, Nov. 21. The United' States Navy, in a communique, says: Although there are enemy patrols active, the Army Marine Corps forces made an advance on the westward flank of our positions on Guadalcanar Island westward of Point Crus. Army Lockheed fighters shot down three Zeros in the Buin area. Patrol activity on Guadalcanar resulted in our outpost lines making an advance. About thirtylive Japanese were killed, The United' States forces suffered few casualties. On Saturday. November 21, our aircraft carried out eleven attack missions against enemy installations on Guadalcanar Island. Our. ground forces engaged in minor activities on Guadalcanar. , NAVAL VICTORY. WHY JAPAN CLAIMS ONE. (Rec. 9.10) NEW YORK, Nov. 21. The “New York Times” in an editorial says: Japan stands by her story of a great naval victory in the Solomons. This is not only because of inordinate vanity on the part oi the military cast and of a divinity complex, but because Japan is conducting a political as well as a military war. For that reason she must convince the peoples of all the conquered territories and also India that America is out of action. Among the other south-eastern Asians, the last remaining reluctance can best be eliminated if they can be persuaded that the American Colossus was hollow. The Japanese must continue to picture themselves a’s invincible in order to equip their Fifth Columns throughout Asia. Therefore, Japanese communiques though seemingly ridiculous in the light of facts serve a practical purpose. JAPANESE NAVAL LOSSES. WASHINGTON, Nov. 21. The sinking of five Japanese warships reported yesterday, said Colonel Knox, was in addition to sinkings previously reported. The total of Japanese sea losses now stood at twentyeight warships and transports sunk and another ten damaged. (Rec. 9.10.) WASHINGTON, Nov.. 21. A recent despatch from Admiral Halsey confirmed damage which had been reported to have been inflicted on the enemy when a battleship oi' a cruiser, also three cruisers and a destroyer, were sunk, and a battlship, a cruiser and a destroyer were damaged. This was in addition to damage inflicted on the Japanese in the Solo* mons.

JAPS. TO GIVE LIST OF CHILIAN INTERNEES. SYDNEY, November 22. The Prime Minister of Australia, Mr Curtin, has received a cablegram from the International Red Cross stating that the Japanese Government is now ready to telegraph a complete list of civilian internees in the Philippines. The Japanese Government is also considring a request by the International Red Cross regarding the appointment of prisoners’ delegates in occupied territories, including the Philippines, Singapore and the Netherlands East Indies, and have promised to announce their decision on this request as soon as possible. LONDON, November 20. Tokio official radio has announced that Lieutenant-General Percival, Lieutenant-General Wainwright, Sir Shenton Thomas, Sir Mark Young, and other Allied officers are quartered in a war prison camp in Formosa. JAP AIR HANDICAP. NEW YORK, Nov. 20. Mr. Tillman Durdin in a dispatch to 'the “New York Times,” said: “In support of their big offensive in the Solomons last week, the Japanese apparently threw in practically all their available strength in the Southwestern Pacific, but it was not sufficient to wrest aerial superiority from the Americans. The Japanese apparently have not enough air power for the Solomons and New Guinea simultaneously. The strengthened Allied air power in New Guinea may represent the margin between a merely defensive holding war and- a successful offensive to dislodge the Japanese, not only from Buna, but from the remainder of New Guinea. Unless the Japanese use many more aeroplanes than at present, the Allies can certainly make Lae and Sala-

ma’ua untenable. If Japan is running short of aeroplanes, pilots and fuel, our advance in the Pacific will be progressively easier.” Admiral Halsey Honoured (Rec. 7.40) NEW YORK, Nov. 21. Admiral Halsey’s nomination as full Admiral came on the very day his hometown, Elizabeth, New Jersey, was celebrating Halsey Day, in honour of his achievements. The schools closed, and Admiral Halsey’s birthplace was decorated like a patriotic shrine.

NO DISUNITY

IN SOUTH PACIFIC COMMANDS. (Rec. 8.10.) NEW YORK, Nov. 21. Colonel Knox, Navy Secretary, during a press conference, turned to Admiral Young, and asked him to reply to the recent, criticism about the matter of unity of command in the Solomons. Admiral Young said he had just returned from a tour of twentythree thousand miles in the Pacific theatre. He said he found “from General MacArthur down, there is absolutely no vestige of disunity. I saw as complete co-operation and joint efficiency, as could exjst anywhere.” Breaking in. Colonel Knox gave an example of real co-operation somewhere in the Pacific. A huge airfield capable of handling a large number of bombers, was built in one week, he said.

Admiral Young added: “The situation] is similar at Auckland, where a hospital for several hundreds! of patients was buit in twenty-nine days.