Evening star., 1942-10-15

Navy" he added.
Mr.. Stimson did not disclose
when the Army forces reached
Guadalcanal, or their strength.
His statement followed disclosure
last night that the Japanese,
using the guns of their warships
to lay down a barrage, had sue
ceeded in landing more troops
on Guadalcanal.
Gen. Harmon, the Secretary said,
has his headquarters in New Zealand
but has spent most of his time at
his advance base in New Caledonia.
Gen. Harmon is one of the Army's
best known flying officers. A gradu-
ate of West Point, Gen. Harmon has
been flying since 1916. He flew in
the Mexican Punitive Expedition
and was fighter pilot in France
during the World War, winning the
Croix de Guerre.
Gen. Harmon left his post here as
chief of the air staff, Army Air
Forces, in July to go to the Pacific
war zone. He is 54 years old.
Example Of Comradeship.
In a. statement outlining Army
operations on the scattered war
fronts, Mr.. Stimson said a Marine
commander on Guadalcanal had just
reported an instance of CLOSE COM
radeship" between the Army and
Marine fighters.
This commander, the Secretary
said, reported that members of an
Army infantry unit in New Gale
donia stripped themselves of ciga-
rettes, candies and other luxuries,
which they dispatched, to a. Marine
regiment holding advance positions
on Guadalcanal.
I'm return, the Marines sent back
captured Japanese souvenirs and
trophies" Mr.. Stimson said.
In New Guinea, Mr.. Stimson said,
Army flyers for months have been
taking heavy toll of japanese air.
craft and shipping, ana rendering
splendid support" to the Australians
in the advance over the Owen STAN
ley range.
Japs BOmbard Field From Ships.
The grim struggle for control OF
the Solomons rose in crescendo, with
the newly reinforced Japanese troops
apparently determined to recapture
the priced Guadalcanal airfield.
Failing to bomb the marine-held
airbase in weeks of costly aerial
attacks, the enemy turned to their
Warships, the Navy reported last
night, and bombarded the landing
field and shore installations from
the sea.
In spite of an American cruiser
destroyer force recently assigned the
task of fighting off seaborne re-
Inducements on the strategic island,
the japanese, the Navy said, sue
ceeded in landing additional troops
on Gauadalcanal yesterday (Thurs-
day in the Solomons).
Covered by warships, Japanese
transports slipped to the north
coast where the enemy troops are
concentrated and in the early morn
ing landed reinforcements and pre-
sumably artillery which the invaders
have lacked.
Major Battle Expected.
The Navys communique did not
disclose whether the enemy fleet
was engaged by the American naval
force which only last Sunday routed
similar landing attempt after
smashing eight Japanese vessels.
The enemy's success in it's latest
venture, however. led naval circles
to believe a major battle for the
alrfleld was imminent.
In New Guinea, west of the Solo
mons, the struggle between japanese
and Australian troops also was
mounting in intensity. After ap-
preaching to 80 miles from the Allied
base at Port Moresby, weakened sup
ply lines forced the invaders to with
draw toward their northern shore
base. Pursuing Australians con-
tacted the enemy last Saturday after
pushing through the gap in the tow
ering Owen Stanley Mountains.
The Allied advance since then
has slowed considerably as the jap
anese supply line was strengthened
and the Australians weakened by
distance. AS result, Gen. Douglas
MacArthur's Australian head
quarters announced last night, tho
fighting has become heavier.
Meanwhile, United States naval
quarters regarded recent Japanese
naval losses as severely sappinc the
enemy's supply strength in the
Pacific. Japanese ship casualties
announced in the last three days
totaled II vessels sunk, 2 probably
sunk and 5 damaged.
This toll Of shipping coupled with
heavy plane losses, naval observers
said, may cause the Japanese to
drive desperately for a quick deci-
sion on Guadalcanal in an effort
to regain control of the Solomous,