IN SOLOMONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 229, 29 September 1942, Page 5

IN SOLOMONS

GUADALCANAR DEFENCE HOW MARINES REPULSED JAP ATTACKS (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Recd. 8.40 p.m.) New York, Sept. 27. I Describing the fighting mentioned j in the communique of September i 15, the United Press of America’s ; correspondent, Robert Miller, writ- • ing from Marine headquarters in the Solomons on September 14, i states: A determined Japanese air, ■ naval and land assault, which was i repulsed with heavy losses, aimed j to capture Henderson Field, the aerial base on Guadalcanal Japanese fighters and bombers attempted to soften the marine garrison for the attack while Japanese naval units furnished artillery support. Simultaneously a three-pronged attack was launched by many hundred veteran Japanese soldiers, specially equipped for jungle fighting. Tne land action raged until to-day when the Japs, repulsed in hand-to-hand fighting, retreated through the jungles to positions along the east and west ends of Guadalcanar, where they had previously landed at night time over a considerable period. Our men thwarted every Jap move. .Marine and naval planes met the increased tempo of air attacks by destroying 16 twin-engined bombers, 10 Zero, four float and nine reconnaissance planes. Our shore batteries effectively replied to Jap cruisers and destroyers which shelled the coast. The marines were sometimes outnumbered ten to one, but fimhy forced the enemy to retire. Maiinc losses were mostly in wounded. 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 Henderson Field and down which the Japs planned to move.

The severe drubbing given the Japs prior to the attack threw the entire operation out of line. The marines, in a raid on September 8, destroyed a large amount of arms and equipment which had been landed 30 miles down the coast, severely handicapping the Japanese. Forces concentrating on the western tip of Guadalcanar were hit simultaneously by planes, which 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 (planning to push from the west to ' attack the right flank and seriously weakening them before they had started. The Jans’ main attack was launched on the night of September 13, at 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 met machine-gun and rifle fire and grenades. Finally at dawn the Japanese had had enough and withdrew, leaving the battlefield strewn with scores of their dead. HEROIC NATIVE POLICEMAN London, Sept. 27. A remarkable story of heroism and endurance by a native policeman in the Solomons has reached Washington. A retired sergeant-major of police was engaged on a secret mission when he was captured by the Japanese. They did everything they could to make him divulge the whereabouts of the American troops. He was bound to a tree and jabbed in the arm, shoulder. and the face with a bayonet. Then he was stabhed in the stomach and left for dead. When he revived, he crawled back to the American lines, and before he was rushd to hospital insisted on making a full report. ,