SOLOMONS FORCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 226, 25 September 1942, Page 5

SOLOMONS FORCE

STEADILY REPLENISHED LOSSES INFLICTED ON JAPANESE Marine Headquarters, Solomon Islands. Sept. 23. A steady stream of men and supplies is pouring in to the expanding United Nations’ bases on the Solomons, says the United Press, reinforcing the Marine Corps which during the first month of occupation killed and captured 3700 Japanese in the Tulagi and Guadalcanar area alone, either sunk or damaged 20 Japanese ships, including a light cruiser and three large destroyers, and also destroyed 44 Zeros, 27 bombers, and two observation planes. The marines lost 20 planes, from which several pilots were saved. The Marine Corps’ biggest victory was the Battle of Tenaru River on August 21 and 22. when they killed 870 of a Japanese landing force. The marines’ losses were 34 killed and 75 wounded. WAR FOR GUADALCANAR NEW DEVELOPMENT IN U.S. TACTICS New York, Sept. 23. The Washington correspondent of the New York Times points out that both Rekata Bay and Gizo Island, which were bombed and strafed by Flying Fortresses, according to a communique, lie along the route between Guadalcanar and Rabaul, the major Japanese base in New Britain. The correspondent adds that American bombers are attacking intermediate bases, including storage dumps, troops, and assembly stations from which the Japanese might launch more landing parties like those that have been harassing Guadalcanar. “If planes could put the enemy’s intermediate depots out of commission within a 200-mile radius of Guaclalcanar they would prevent invasion forces from assembling within the distance traversable by barges overnight.” the correspondent says. “They would also prevent the maintenance of supply depots for small Japanese bombers and fighters within striking distance of Guadalcanar. “Thus the Japanese would be forced to rely on heavy ocean transport, involving major fleet operations to move substantial striking forces into the Guadalcanar area thereby forcing the Japanese to run the gauntlet of American bombers without the protection of Japanese land-based fighters.” The New York Times points out that the Solomons operations must be viewed as parallel to the activities in New Guinea. The Jananese advance there apparently has reached a point where the conquest of the island can be accomplished only if the Japanese attack Port Moresby from the sea, thereby cutting the flow of Allied supplies from Australia. Because of the location of the Solomons relative to Australia and NewGuinea, the Japanese can threaten Port Moresby only by reducing the American-held positions in the Solomons, and regaining control of the air by recapturing the airfield on Guadalcanar. Officials in Washington admit that the task confronting the Japanese is difficult but are convinced that they will make the attempt, probably through a manoeuvre involving’surprise. The losses already suffered in the efforts to recapture the Solomons h. ve obviously forced the Japanese to reconsider their plans —delay that been extreme!} valuable for the American forces—but it is generally felt that the longer the delay the greater will be the strength of the Japanese blow. JAPANESE TRAPPED FLEE BEFORE ATTACK Guadalcanar, Sept. 23. The Lusted Press correspondent Robert Miller says that there were indications that the Japanese have built up a large occupation force on the eastern tip of the island. Rubber boats, launches, barges, and rafts showed that Japanese have landed periodically under cover of darkness and with large supplies. The marines caught the enemy so completely by surprise that the Japanese fled in’ disorder, even abandoning their packs and several pieces of field artillery in well fortified positions. The marines’ attack was made under a canopy of planes supported by naval gunfire. Lack of organised resistance by the numerically superior Japanese is partly explained by the presence of a large United Nations convoy, giving the impression of a huge ' armada preparing to land thousands of troops.