STERN FIGHTING IN SOLOMONS

Southland Times, Issue 24860, 28 September 1942, Page 5

STERN FIGHTING IN SOLOMONS

Japanese Attacks On Air-Field (Rec. 9.40 p.m.) NEW YORK, Sept. 26. The Battle of the Solomons has just commenced while the Marines, who recently received supplies and reinforcements, are tenaciously clinging to the beach head at Guadalcanar, says The New York Times military writer, Hanson Baldwin, in a dispatch from somewhere in the South Pacific. Against the only air-field in the Southern Solomons the Japanese are concentrating their attacks, shouting “American Marines, you die” and bombing from planes and shelling from submarines. , The Japanese are deceitful, cunning and ruthless. Well-equipped, they are the best jungle fighters in the world. They use all sorts of tricks, particularly at night, to entice the enemy to reveal his position. For example, there is the “musical trap.” Some Japanese whistle the Marine Corps Hymn or the American “Reveille,” while others in the dark jungle call “Smith” or even the correct name of the directing American officer. If Marines incautiously expose themselves in compliance with the supposed orders of their superiors they are immediately killed. BIRD CALLS IMITATED The Japanese also imitate bird calls and animal noises to cover the rustling caused by their progress through the jungle. On other occasions they inch their way through the grass almost noiselessly and wait patiently for hours lashed to tree-tops or up to their necks in deep swamps. . The Japanese equipment on Guadalcanar is well adapted tor warfare on this “Green Hell.” They do not possess artillery-or tanks, but automatic rifles, knives and an ingenious little grenade-throwing mortar which one man can carry. Their grenades are much more. effective than ours. Although tough and confident, the Japanese show at least one great weakness on Guadalcanar—regardless of circumstances or the hopelessness of a particular plan of action and regardless of opposition they stubbornly and fatalistically adhere to the plan of sneaking infiltration, being completely unable to improvize a new plan. They keep coming until they are dead. That is the reason why the Japanese casualties on Guadalcanar are extremely high. HARD FIGHTING AHEAD Vast Effort In Pacific (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) PEARL HARBOUR, Sept 26. In a speech after decorating 36 airmen aboard a ship of the Pacific Fleet Vice-Admiral William Halsey said the daily shifts at home from optimism to pessimism did not ; reflect the true course of the war. ’ “We who do the fighting appreciate that the position of the vast Pacific effort cannot change overnight,” he said. “By no means have we the enemy on the run. We know the hardest fighting is ahead.” ,• GIZO ISLAND BOMBED U.S. Air Force in Solomons (8.0.W.) RUGBY, September 26. Flying Fortresses’ bombardment of Gizo Island, in New Georgia group of the Solomons, and. an attack against enemy installations at Rekata Bay, on the northern coast of Santa .Ysabel Island, on Monday last are described in a United States Navy communique. On Wednesday Army bombers again attacked Rekata Bay. Docks and buildings were damaged and one small float plane was brought down. On the following day army bombers attacked a, force of enemy transports near Shortland Island. The attack was opposed by about 20 Japanese fighters. Three hits were scored on the transports and one enemy fighter was brought down. Marine patrols on Guadalcanar were active in attacking scattered enemy units. These operations were supported by Navy and Marine Corps divebombers, which bombed and strafed enemy-held villages and other points of resistance. TARGETS IN INDO CHINA BOMBED (8.0.W.) RUGBY, September 26. A communique issued from the headquarters of Lieutenant-General Joseph W. Stilwell, states that American bombers attacked enemy targets in. Yunan, French Indo-China. On Wednesday 40 enemy planes were attacked south-west of Yunan. Next day a Japanese aerodrome near Hanoi was attacked. A large enemy force attempted interception. Three enemy planes were destroyed, two were probably destroyed and several others were damaged. All the American planes returned safely. LONG FERRY SERVICE Bombers For Australia (Special Australian Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) SYDNEY, September 26. “This is the world’s longest ferry service,” said an American ferry pilot, discussing the ferrying of bombers from the United States to the South-West Pacific. It is claimed that the service is equal to a triple Atlantic crossing. “The lack of stepping stones has made the job exacting,” said one pilot. “You can imagine the great navigational skill demanded to make a landing on the tiny islands which serve as intermediate refuelling stops. After you have been in the air some 18 hours, it is no mean feat to pick up some microscopic island in a vast expanse of ocean. However, unpredicted weather still remains our worst enemy.” Flying times have been lowered and hops have been extended as the service has developed. Much of the flying is done at nights. This many of the pilots prefer, since it gives a better engine performance. Violent electrical storms and torrential rains provide the main hazards. AUSTRALIAN MONITOR SERVICE (Rec. 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, September 27. The former Press attache to the Japanese Legation, Mr David Tokamasu, is being given training by the Australian Broadcasting Commission as monitor of Japanese broadcasts. The work consists of listening to broadcasts in Japanese and malting a record of what is said. It is stated there are only three or four persons in Australia competent to undertake the work. Mr Tokamasu is an American citizen and is married to a British woman.