The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-09-28
MARINES BEAT
 BACK JAPANESE
Continued from Page 1)


 Japanese warships under cover had been landing strong forces of picked troops, trained in jungle fighting, to the west and east Of the marine positions at night.
 The show opened Sept. 12. Three times during the day big forces of enemy planes raided the marine po- sitions hoping to soften the defenses. At dusk the enemy attacked Ed sons frontal positions in force.
 Filtered Through Lines
 The enemy succeeded in Altering into the marine positions. Then, as Edson-"Red Mike" to his men-put it, things began to happen.
 At 10 p. m. word was passed down the line: Stand by for attack"
 Four Japanese light cruisers and destroyers which had steamed sl- lently up to firing range laid down a barrage. They poured salvos into the marine positions in the hills, just over the horizon from the shore, for 10 minutes by the light of their stabbing searchlights.
 Coast defense searchlights picked them out and the shore guns thun- dered a retort. The enemy ships could not take 1t and withdrew. At 10:l0 the Japanese attacked all along Edson's line.
 They started jabbering and yelling like monkeys, attempting to draw the fire of the marine front line.
 The marines stood fast without firing.
 Attack From Rear A force of enemy troops swan si- lently across the Lunga river and hit a marine platoon from the rear. The platoon position became unten- able and the marines retired.
 Some other sections of the line bent in. But the marine artillery under Mai. Ellsworth Norman, Chi cago, had figured out the Japanese positions and 1t opened steady fire which continued throughout the night. The enemy troops were held. At intervals the Japanese warships sneaked in to firing range and laid down a brief bombardment.
 On the morning of the 18th zero fighter squadron attacked. Marine and navy fighters intercepted and shot down four. Two motored bomb- CTS attacked at noon. Long before they reached the targets the defense fighters had downed four of them and forcd the others to jettison their bombs.
 Edson's troops advanced and, re- gaining all positions they had lost Straightened the marine line. Later they decided to withdraw 150 yards in the center to base themselves on grassy knoll commanding B long ridge down which the Japanese were creeping. Edson's line now stretched from a jungle valley over the ridge and into another valley.
 Hand to Hand Fight
 About T:30 p. m. the Japanese swept down the ridge for their big attack. The Japanese dislodged . marine platoon after a grim hand to hand fight.
 There was now a gap in the ma. rine lines and the Japanese pushed quickly through 1t. Some front line marines were stranded on a ridge with 6 small force holding the tor of the commanding knoll. The ma rines to right and left had with. drawn to . line about 200 yardi back of the knoll.
 The Japanese sent their main force against the knoll, under heavy smoke screen.
 Corporal Walter J. Burak crawlec under heavy fire back along the ridge. stFinging a telephone line which restored communication with the rear. Edson had a wireless traS1s- mitter. but the Japanese could read everything he sent on it.
 over the telephone came the crdei at midnight Co withdraw from the knoll. The marines on both sldei opened fire with rifle, machine ghr and trench mortar to cover the Fe' tiremeiat and the artillery, joining in, put up such c heavy baFFagt that an attempt by the enemy C follow ap the withdrawal vas beaten baek. NeeFeg Of Japailose feil,
 eFfom then on We had them Mskad." Ndeon salA.