Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-17
laps Put Everything
Into Solomons Fight,
Nimitz Declares
Enemy on GuuduIconoI
Short Of Beuns and Bullets
Admiral Points Out
BY WALTER b. CLAUSEN.
Associated Press War CORRESPONDENT,

ASsociateo Press war correspondent
PEARL HARBOR, T. H., Nov. II.
-Japan's naval hordes swept down
on the Solomon Islands to disaster
IN their about effort to smash
American power in the South Pa
cific.
When full details of those three
short but fiery engagements north
west OF Guadalcanal on November
1915 become known, they will tell
story Of not only the greatest
naval battles ever staged at night,
but also of the t1ercest smuggling COM
bats In all naval history.
1t was a most costly demonstra-
ton to Japan that not only have
American forces complete control
OF the land, sea and sky there, but
they also have the force to carry on
an offensive.
i think they brought everything
they had" said Admiral Chester w.
Nimitz. commander in chief of the
Pacific Fleet, significantly.
Japs Lack Beans and Bullets.
AS result, all the enemy forces
were either destroyed or driven
back. and a major victory was OBJ
tanned by our gallant forces"
The admiral said he was certain
the victory would result in the i'm
mediate Strengthening of the hold
we now have on Guadalcanal and
the eventual expulsion of the enemy
from that strategic island.
The Japs on Guadalcanal, he said,
are suffering from the lack of two
things, beans and bullets
They have bands of men in the
upper reaches Of the island with
radio equipment. which gives them
the advantage Of having reports on
everything we do, all our plans and
ship movements and almost COM
plete data on our operations and
forces" he said.
Our problem is to eliminate these
observation patrols so we can do
something without being seen. We
know the enemy Is greatly disap-
pointed he didn't get supplies and
reinforcements, and he Is especially
lacking in beans and bullets.
I'VE know we have plenty of men
there, and that they have enough
to do the job we set out to do
expel the Japs-and that our men
have the proper punch to do It,"
Japs without Carriers.
For this about offensive, the Japs
assembled at Rabaul all of the
forces they could from power
houses in the vast Western Pacific,
the admiral said, adding that part
Of this was destined for Guadal-
canal and part for New Guinea, but
1t looks like they were disappointed
In both cases."
So great was the confusion on the
part of Japan's naval units that
at one time two Japanes forces
were firing at each other.
1--WE hope" he commented wryly,
that they matched their3usual high
skill in that engagement"
+ Battleships OF both sides partici-
pated in these brief, bitter fights,
two night engagements and one
early morning affair, but the Japa-
nese were without airplane carriers.
G1UAlC1 Cllcy uIuIl nave any 1clC,
their losses being greater in the
October rs engagement than We
estimated, or they didn't choose to
risk them" Admiral Nimitz said
s Loss Of Jap Men Tremendous.
The admiral estimated between
10000 and 10000 Jap troops went
down on the sunken transports,
which he described as damned
full"
If he were a Jap commander. he
said, I'D be sweating and bleeding
If I had to explain such a loss"
Our overall loss Of personnel was
relatively small while that of Japan
was tremendous, he said.
With further note of optimism.
Admiral Nimitz recalled that months /
ago he mentioned that I'VE were
behind the eight ball" but now
things are looking up all the time.
! don't think we are so close to the
eight ball now. However, we have
not reached the stage where we can
roam care-free over the ocean,"