SOLOMONS BATTLE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 264, 7 October 1942, Page 5

SOLOMONS BATTLE

REPORTED NAVAL ACTION JAPANESE - CLAIMS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, Oct. 6. The Berlin radio states that a great naval battle is being fought off the Solomons, but the report is regarded here with scepticism. The 8.8. C. says London denies knowledge of any large-scale Pacific naval action.

The United States Navy Department has declined to comment on this report or on the statement by the Japanese navy spokesman (Admiral Hiraide) that the operations in the Solomons have cost the United States “several aircraft-carriers, 10 transports, and 10 other naval craft.” Hiraide’s statement is regarded hero as one intended for morale boosting and home- consumption. “One of the most promising changes in the Pacific situation is that since her disastrous losses at Midway 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,” declares the Sydney Morning Herald’s military correspondent to-day. “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 a naval battle,” he adds.

Commenting on the improved Pacific situation, the correspondent says: “The Americans in the Solomons are now so firmly established that nothing short of a full-sized expeditionary force would have any real chance of turning the tables against them. Similarly in New Guinea, recent, events confirm the view that the main danger to Port Moresby lies in an attack from the sea rather than from the forcing of the ranges.” GUADALCANAL ACTIVITY.

“Our marines are maintaining their positions on Guadalcanal, where our air forces are continuing to attack the enemy over a wide area,” says a United States naval communique, according to the Official Wireless. “Clashes with enemy patrols have been frequent, but there have been no major changes in the position.” The communique adds: “Despite our determined attacks, it has not been possible to prevent the . enemy from landing small troop reinforcements on Guadalcanal under cover of darkness. Small groups of Japanese heavy bombers, with strong fighter escort, raided our positions here. Our fighters shot down four enemy fighters and forced the bombers to jettison their bombs before reaching their objective. “Navy and Marine Corps divebombers, assisted by army pursuit planes, raided small craft carrying supplies and troops to Guadalcanal. They also bombed and strafed j enemy troops and equipment ashore.” The communique says that enemy shore installations at Rekata Bay also were bombed and strafed. Two enemy seaplanes were destroyed, and fires were observed. “In another raid here,” it adds, "our dive-bombers set fire to munition dumps and damaged two enemy aircraft. Flying Fortresses set fire to a small boat off the Greenwich Islands, at the south-east of Malaita Island, while our divebombers continued their attacks on enemy 'troop concentrations and supply dumps on Guadalcanal. “On October 2, the Japanese again attacked Guadalcanal with a small group of bombers, heavily escorted by fighters. Our interceptors shot down four enemy fighters. No bombs were dropped.”