The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-11-05
MARINES PUSH
 ISLAND DRIVE
Japs Forced to Abandon Equipment; Leaders Still
 Not Optimistic
BY SANDOR S. KLEIN YwsSknSa meo-. CSnW rsns-n~.uSou1avaAl

Limited Press Stan CorrespOndent)
 Washington, Nov s = (UP) - American Marines, supported by Army and Navy airinen, are push ing their admittedly small offensive on Guadalcanal Island vigorously enough to force the Japanese to abandon valuable equipment.
 Twenty machine guns and two small artillery pieces were reported captured by the Americans in last nights communique. During the first day of the offensive west of the airfleld on Guadalcanal the Americans captured two 75 nm. guns.
 Naval communiques and naval officials have carefully avoided magnifying the dimensions of the offensive which started last Thurs day (island time). They likewise have avoided any mention of dis order in the enemy retreat from their advance positions near the Matanikau river.
 But the last communique's men, ton of machine guns and artillery captured indicated that all is not well with the Japanese. There has been no mention of Japanese air support for eight days. It is a reasonable assumption that the enemy would make every effort to preserve all the fire power available. The transportation of such equip ment from advance bases to the scene of fighting is one of the major logistic problems for both sides in the battle of the Solomons.
 Latest reports from the Solomons bring the battle on Guadalcanal through Tuesday morning dsland time) when 1t was said that the advance to the west was continu- ing.
 As of last night, however, the Navy here had received no report Of troop activity on the eastern flank of American positions where new enemy troops have landed.
 On Monday, American forces continued to attack the enemy west of the airfield and made some small gains" The communique re- vealed that Army and Navy planes gave strong support to those att tacks bombing and strafing enemy troops and positions. It had been reported in an earlier communique that American destroyers on that same day bombarded enemy posi- tions in the morning supporting our land attacks in that area"
 There still was no tendency here to be optimistic about the situation in the Solomofls. Naval officials pointed out that there has been an ominous lack of reports on any Japanese naval or air activity for days.
 The last day Japanese aircraft have been mentioned in theSv1cinity of Guadalcanal was last Friday when American fighters shot down four out of a formation of six zeros without damage to American planes. The last mention of any Japanesu surface units near Guad- alcanal was the same day when American dive bomberS attacked enemy destroyers in the vicinity of Russell Islands which are 40 miles northwest of Cape Esperance on the northwestern tip of Guadal- canal.
 The current Hull in enemy offen- sive action is the longest since late in August after the Japanese failed in their first attempt to drive the Americans out of their newly secured positions.
 The battle of the Solomons is in its sand day today. It has been nine days since the Japanese abandoned their last all-out drive a drive that ended in severe dam age to their fleet and repulse after repulse on land and in the air.