Imperial Valley press., 1942-10-22
2 u. s.
Ships ]
Sunk

Sunk
WASHINGTON. Oct PUP
American filters today were harrasS-
ing small japanese naval task
forces prowling near supply lines
in the southern SolomonS as both
sides were revealed to have suffer-
ed new naval casualties, including
the loss of two American destroyers.
The big enemy counter r-offensive
for Guadalcanal has not started.
but the main japanese invasion
fleet remains menacingly in the
northern Solomons.
The emphasis in the battle of
the Solcmons still remains on the
fight for control of the air over
Guadalcanal. Japanese and Amer
ican airmen are exchanging daily
blows over the vital aiIfield there.
DFSTROYERS LOST
The Navy disclosed last night
that the United States lost two
comparatively new deStroyers-the
Meredith and O'Brien-"within the
last few days as a result CT enemy
action
It also announced that a Jap
anese cruiser and a destroyer were
damaged by American bombers. The
cruiser was stopped by at least one
bomb hit.
American ship losses in the Solo
mons now stand at 12 warships and
auxiliaries sunk. Japanese losses
are 10 sunk, three probably sunk
and as damaged. Damage to
American ships has not been an
nounced.
ACTION UNREVEALED
1t was not disclosed how the de-
Stroyers were sunk. The only ac-
ton of American surface vessels re-
ported in more than a week was
en- last Saturday (Solomons' time)
then us. surface vessels Shelled
enemy positions on the northwest
coast of Guadalcanal island, scor-
ing hits on ammunition dumps.
There was no indication that the
O'Brien or Meredith were involved
in that action. They may have
been conveying supplies and rein
forcements from the south.
Naval quarters warned that the
loss Of the American deStroyerS did
not imply that the American fleet
has begun extensive action in the
Solomons. In fact, they said
American fliers at present are
Gearing about 80 per cent of the
! fighting burden there.
BALANCE NEEDED
1t. Col. Richaro G. Mangrum, un-
til recently commander of. a Ma.
rine dive bomber squadron a.
| Guadalcanal, told reporters in Pear
Harbor last night that the United
States would hold its ground in the
| Solomons, but warned that surface
craft and land forces would bt
needed as much as planes. He en-
phasized the need for balance OF
land, sea and air forces and su-
pericrity over the enemy in each
to hold an island or beachhead such
as GuadalCanal.
The Navy's communique last
night mentioned for the first time
enemy WarShips in waters south
of Guadalcanal. Tt did not elabor-
ate, merely stating. Small units
Cof the enemy fleet have been
located and attacked in the SOUTH
ern Sclomons." 1t was believed
that those attacks were made by
aircraft
SUPPLIES MENACED
Patrol planes presumably are
continuing to search out such units
since they would be a menace tc
Guadalcanal's supply line to bases
in the New Hebrides, New Caledo-
MIA, the Fini islands and Australia
all to the south.
Contrary to persistent Axis re-
ports of a big battle raging or
Guadalcanal, the Navy said there
has been little recent troop activ-
ity on Guadalcanal and our air.
craft are continuing to bomb the
enemy positions. In fact, there
has been no offensive land action
reported since last Thursday Wher
the last japanese troop landing was
made
JAP BASE RAIDED
But there has been no lessenine
of intensity of air activity. Fol
the fifth consecutive day American
planes raided Japanese troop anc
supply concentrations on Guadal-
canal in an effort to prevent tht
enemy from organizing for an eX.
pected assault.
North of the Solomons, Gen. Mac
Arthur's heavy bombers staged an
other shattering raid on Rabaul
important japanese base on New
Britain island from which the enc
my has been supplying forces en-
gagged in the Solomon islands bat.
/ tie. MacArthur's bombers battered
/ Rabaul in four raids last week
when the japanese were preparing
for their counter attack on Quad.
alcanal.