TURN OF TIDE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24423, 5 November 1942, Page 3

TURN OF TIDE

SOLOMONS BATTLE INITIATIVE SEIZED ATTACK BY AMERICANS (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Nov. 3 Bombs, petrol and all types of supplies have been built up in the American positions on Guadalcanar, enabling our troops to take the offensive for the first time, according to a United States Navy communique. United States land forces on Guadalcanar on Monday pressed their ollensive westward to Matanikau River, says the communique. On Monday night, however, the Japanese landed reinforcements on the island east of the American positions. Dive-bombers continued their attacks against the enemv on the northern etui of Guadalcanar on Sunday night, and on Monday morning American destroyers shelled the Japanese positions west of Matanikau River. Further Naval Clash Expected A naval spokesman, amplifying the communique, pointed out that the situation on Guadalcanar, Tulagi and Florida ultimately depends on whether the United States licet or the Japanese fleet controls the sea and supply routes to the Solomons It is expected here that the opposing naval forces will clash again in the near future ami that a decisive sea engagement will mark the ultimate disposal of Guadalcanar. However, our troops are expected to press the immediate advantage. They hold unquestioned aerial superiority. A decisive victory over the Japanese hind forces would make the Japanese problem much more difficult. Mr. Hanson Baldwin, the New York Times' military correspondent, says the news from the South Pacific is encouraging. He recalls a remark of the Marine commander, Major-General Vandegrift, in the middle of September. Asked if he intended to hold the beach-head on Guadalcanar, MajorGeneral Vandegrift replied: "Hell, yes. Why not?" Major Change in Position Mr. Baldwin comments: "In the light of after-events, Major-General Vandegrift's answer was more than the bold words of a tough Marine. It may well have been historic." "The American land forces' seizure of the initiative is regarded as a highly important indication of a major change in the relative positions on Guadal canar." writes the New York Times' Washington correspondent. "This aggressive action constituted the first optimistic news of the land operations on Guadalcanal- for several weeks. "Informed officials never doubted that the Army and the Marines were capable of coping with the Japanese However, there was the grave question of the amount of supplies available for their use. The new action indicates that since the naval engagement a week ago supplies have been moving i'reelv to Guadalcanar and. our other bases in the New Hebrides and Fiji."