The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-10-16
MARINES ARE NOT
 ALL SURPRISED
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tains of New Guinea had indicated that the Imperial command was preparing 8 desperate attempt to regain the initiative in the Pacific war, probably by full scale attempt to recapture Guadalcanal Island and it's vital air field.
 There was feeling here that the Japanese might be gambling every thing they had in one great attack on the marine positions.
 The first big enemy counter-of- fensive started two months after the marine landing, and this fact was believed possibly to indicate that the Japanese were no longer able to accumulate quickly the forces needed for a concentrated attack, in view of their dispersal over vast areas.
 Navy department conmuniques issued at Washington were taken to mean that the new, big Japanese landings were being made in the vicinity of Cape Esperance, the westernmost tip of Guadalcanal, 30 airline miles west of the marines Henderson flying field on the north coast.
 It was the first time that the Japanese were attempting landings under a canopy of land-based high altitude and dive bombing planes and torpedo carrying planes. Enemy Is Desperate
 This procedure, regarded here as most hazardous, might be taken to indicate the determination, if not desperation, of the enemy.
 On the basis of the six weeks I spent on Guadalcanal after l1n-ing with the marine invasion forces, it is safe to say that the troubles of the enemy troops will only begin when they are ashore.
 Two routes of attacks on the ma- rine positions are practicable. One is along the coastal trail, which is passable but vulnerable to bombing and machine gunning by planes. The second lies down the hilly country inland, where the going is rough. Between the hills and the beach is almost impenetrable jun gle.
 It was believed here that to make good their counter-attack the Jap anese would need heavier weapons than they had employed so far United States artillery has proved deadly.
 To supply the enemy forces with heavy guns under constant air at- tack and to move the gugns through the jungle would be difficult, and the marines are eager to go when the Japanese reach the end of the trail.
 Meeting Every Attack
 Adm. Chester w. Nimitz, Pacific Fleet Commander in Chief who has just returned from the Solomons, said today in presenting medals to group of Pacific war heroes in a ceremony aboard war ship in the harbor, that the American forces on Guadalcanal were effectively meeting every attack.
 T need not remind you, who have been in the battle and must re- turn to it, that our task is tremen- dous," he said. Tt will grow tough CT as we go forward. The end is not yet in sight.
 q recently returned from the ter- ritory won by our marines in the Solomons. visited them in their forward positions on Guadalcanal, from which with their traditional enterprise and courage they are eff fectively meeting every enemy force hurled At them.
 The Japanese are continuing ever intensified pressure with view to recapturing Guadalcanal, the first territory taken from them in this war. Let me commend to you the splendid motto of the Marines leader in the Solomons. Maj. Gen. Alexander A. Vandegrift:
 God favors the bold and strong of heart"