Evening star., 1942-10-18
Macarthur Planes, Joining Fight
For SoIomons, Roid 3 Jap Bases;
House Passes 1919 Droft Bill
All Types Of U. S.
Arms Thrown Into
Islands Bottle

Allied bombers from airfields
In Australia and New Guinea
under the command of Gen.
Douglas Macarthur joined yes
terday in the still-developing
battle for the Solomons Islands
as all types of American arms
In the Southwest Pacific were
thrown into the engagement.
The bombers made heavy attacks
on three bases from which Japa-
nese planes are operating in the
Solomons area, Macarthur head
quarters communique announced
early today, according to an As
sociated Press dispatch.
Assaults were made on airdromes
at Buka, at the northern tip of the
Solomons group, BUN, on the
northern Solomon Island of Bou-
gaville, and Rabaul, the main Japa-
nese base Of operations which has
had heavy raids almost daily for
the past week Four -motored
bomber formations made the at
tacks on Rabaul and BUN.
A few hours earlier, in Washing
ton, the Navy announced in COM
munique that the Solomons battle
has yet to reach a showdown stage
and the outcome is still in doubt.
Because of the lack of unlimited
battle activity, American losses so
far have been minor, the Navy
said, but warned that in a battle
of this nature losses must be ex-
pected."
Indicates Clash Is Shaping.
The Nays communique made
virtually the first significant men
ton of American sea forces to ap-
pear in any Navy statement on the
engagement, preliminary phases of
which began six days ago.
Our land, sea and air forces of
the Army, Navy and Marine Corps
are engaged in meeting b serious
enemy assault, the outcome of which
is still undecided" it was an
nounced.
This indicated that a major clash
of the American and japanese
navies might be in the making, with
each feet maneuvering for the best
advantage and the right moment to
strike in the dangerously narrow
waters of the Solomons archipelago
What American naval units ac-
tually are operating in the battle
zone was, Of course, not made
known, but the Japanese have been
reported to have a considerable force
of battleships and all the necessary
supporting vessels among the is
lands.
On land as on the sea, the COM
munique said, there has so far been
no full-scale engagement between
Americas Army Marine troops de-
Tending the strategic Guadalcanal
air field and the heavily strength
ened enemy forces concentrated on
the jungle covered northern hump
of the island.
Japans losses were raised by one
cruiser damaged and one transport
bombed and set afire while another
transport was believed to have been
damaged by near misses. In addl-
ton, destruction of eight enemy
planesx-three bonbers and five
fighters-was reported. The cruiser
suffered torpedo hit when naval
aircraft made a night attack OIL
enemy ships to the eastward of the
So1omons.
American Positions B0mbarded.
About the time this American at
tack was in progress another grour
of Jap warships bombarded the
American positions on Guadalcana
for about an hour. This was the
eighth reported japanese bombing
days. y
Since some of the earlier attack!
were officially described as heavy il
seemed certain that the airflele
which is the strategic heart of th'
American-held area had suffered
considerable damage.
But apparently, it was still in ope
ration. The communique said tina
on the morning Of october is lou
aircraft from Guadalcanal attacked
troop positions along the northwes
coast of the island"
Presumably the dive bomber
which attacked the enemy transport
that afternoon also came from
Guadalcanal although that was no
specifically stated. The transport
were operating in the area west Q
New Georgia Island, which lie
northwest of Gusdalcanal, and wer
escorted by destroyers. No hits wer
reported on the destroyers, however
the Navy saying only that "direc
hits damaged and set fire to on
transport and a second is believes
to have been damaged by nea
misses"
Japan's ship losses for the entir
Solomons campaign now stand q
eight sunk, three probably sunk an
1Sec SOIOMONS, Page A-3)