JUST COMMENCING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 228, 28 September 1942, Page 5

JUST COMMENCING

BATTLE OF SOLOMONS CORRESPONDENT’S VIEW

TACTICS OF JAPANESE

(Bv Telegrsnh—Pres? Assoc’utfon--Copyrie , ht) Recd. 9.40.) New York. Sept. 26.

The battle of the Solomons is just commencing, while the Marines, wh'' recently received supplies and reinforcements, are tenaciousl” clinging to their beach head on Guadalcc.nar,” says the New York Times’ representative, Hanson Baldwin, in a dispatch from “somewhere in the South Pacific.” Against the only airfields in the southern Solomons the Japanese are concentrating attacks, shouting: “American Marines! You die!” They are bombing from planes and shelling from submarines.

“The Japanese are deceitful, cunning, ruthless and well equipped, and the best jungle fighters in the world,” says Baldwin. “They use all sorts of tricks, particularly at night, to entice the enemy to reveal his position. For example, take 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 the Marines incautiously expose themselves in compliance with the supposed orders of their superiors they are immediately killed. The Japanese also imitate bird calls and animal noises, covering their rustling progress through the jungle. On other occasions they inch their way through the grass almost noiselessly or wait patiently for hours lashed to tree-tons or neck deep in swamps. The Jaoanese equipment at Guadalcanal’ is well adapted to warfare in the ‘green hell’ of the jungle. 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 at Guadalcanar —regardless of circumstances and the hopelessness of a narticular plan of action, regardless of opposition, they stubbornly and fatalistically adhere to the plan of sneaking infiltration, being completely unable to improvise a new plan. They keep coming until they are dead. That is the reason why the Jaoanese casueVics at Guadalcanar are extremely high.” SOLOMONS OPERATIONS U.S. BOMBERS ACTIVE (Recd. 9.30 p.m.) Rugby, Sept .26. Flying Fortresses’ bombardment of Gizo Island, in the New Georgia group of the Solomons, and an attack against, enemy installations at Rekata Bay, on the northern coast of Santa Isabel Island on Monday last were described in a United States Navy communique. On Wednesday army bombers again attacked Rekata Bay. Docks and buildings were damaged. One small float-plane was brought down. 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 scored on the transports and one enemy fighter was brought down. Marine patrols on Guadalcanar were active, attacking scattered enemV units. These operations were supported by Navy and Marine Corps dive-bombers, which bombed and strafed enemy-held villages and other points or rr-s'<i 8.0.W,