FIGHTING ON SOLOMONS

Southland Times, Issue 24861, 29 September 1942, Page 5

FIGHTING ON SOLOMONS

MARINES THROW BACK JAPANESE ' EeC NEWYORK, September 27. Describing the fighting in the Solomons a few days ago the United Press of America’s correspondent, Robert Miller, writing from Marine headquarters in the Solomons, states that a determined Japanese air, naval and land assault, which was repulsed with heavy losses, aimed to capture the Henderson a**" base on Guadalcanal. Japanese* fighters and bombers attempted to soften the Marine garrison for the attack, while Japanese naval units gave artillery support Simultaneously, a three-pronged attack was launched by many hundred veteran Japanese soldiers specially equipped for jungle fighting. The land action raged for several days. The Japanese, repulsed in hand-to-hand fighting, retreated through the jungles to positions along the east and west ends of Guadalcanal, where they had previously landed at night time. Over a- considerable period our men thwarted every Japanese move. Marine and naval planes met the increased tempo of air attacks by destroying 16 twin-engined bombers, 10 Zeros t four float planes ahd nine recoimaisance planes. Our shore batteries effectively replied to the Japanese cruisers ana destroyers which shelled the coast. The Marines were sometimes outnumbered 10 to one, but they finally forced the enemy to retire. The Marine losses were mostly wounded. ASSAULTS REPULSED The Marines repulsed repeated assaults against the vital Lunga. ridge on the north-eastern side of the island, which is the main avenue of approach to the Henderson field and down which the Japanese planned to move. A severe drubbing was given the Japanese before the attack and threw the entire operation out of line. A Marine raid on September 8 destroyed a large amount of Japanese arms and equipment which had been landed 30 miles down the coast, severely handicapping the Japanese forces concentrating on the western tip of Guadalcanal Planes destroyed 16 launches loaded with infantrymen, preventing the majority, from landing. Another attack 24 hours later destroyed the remainder of the beached launches, crippling the enemy troops nlanning to push from the west to attack the right flank and seriously weakening them before they started. The Japanese main attack was launched on the night of September 13 the Marines holding the rear, three miles from the aerodrome. Preceded by smoke clouds, with which they tried to screen their advance, the Japanese ran forward, yelling: “Gas attack.” The ruse failed and the Japanese were beaten off. The Marines fell, back from the advanced ridge to consolidated positions, where they halted attack after attack, littering the ridges with enemy dead. Futile Japanese charges were met with machine-gun, rifle fire and grenades. Finally at dawn the Japanese had had enough and withdrew, leaving the battlefield strewn with scores of their dead. CHINESE OFFENSIVE Valuable Bases Not Taken (Ree. 9.40 p.m.) NEW”IfORK, Sept. 28. The Chinese counter-offensive appears to have halted just short of its consummation, says The New York Times in an editorial. The capture of Kinhwa would have given. American bombers a base within reach of Japan and the capture of Canton would perhaps have made possible the severance of Japanese sea communications with south-eastern Asia and spoiled Japanese hopes of attacking India. The Chinese are all but impregnable in defence and surge back with almost tidelike regularity after every defeat, but they lack the power for the offensive, without which they will never be able to deliver a death blow. Therefore, the United Nations must provide the Chinese with offensive'power, planes, artillery, munitions and technical personnel. RETAKING~OF BURMA General Wavell’s Plans (8.0.W.) RUGBY, September 27. General Sir Archibald Wavell, Com-mander-in-Chief in India, speaking in New Delhi, has disclosed that he has been planning the reoccupation of Burma ever since it was lost. He says that it must be retaken in order to obtain a position from which to take Japanese occupied bases and also from which to drive on the Japanese themselves. He did not think Japan was strong enough in the air to take on a campaign on three fronts—lndia, China and Australia—while keeping a strong force in Japan and having to guard against the potential enemy in Siberia. The Indian theatre of war was feeling the effect of the battle of the seas, but he was getting supplies and was building up as quickly as possible. Dealing with second front possibilities General Wavell said: “Whatever happens the Russians are going to hold on and we are going to open a second front as soon as we can.”