The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-10-27
Enemy Has Concentrated Much Strength, Knox
 Says Today
GROWING BATTLE WAS
 REVEALED LAST NIGHT
U. s. Marines, Soldiers Hold 25 Square Mile
 Patch Against Assaults
BY SANDOR s. KLEIN United Press Staff Correspondent


 United Press Staff CorrespondentI
 Washington, October 27.-- (UP)-American and Japan. ese fleets in the Solomona area are maneuvering in a contest of power and wits, with the outcome mot yett clear" ;" Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox said today. Conceding that the enemy has a lot of strength" Knox said in response to press confer ence inquiry that he was not 'fore- shadowing results and certainly I'm not foreshadoWing defeat"
 He declared that the U. s. Fleet operating in the fight is putting up one of the gamest fights in its his- tory.
 He gave no new information, however, concerning actual progress of the battle itself. which in its latest phases has cost the United States 8 destroyer sunk, an aircraft carrier severely damaged and lesser damage to other vessels. Both Fleets SIugging
 An American carrier task force began to slug it out with powerful and apparently numerically su- perior-Japanese force two days ago. T-le navy disclosed this last night, coincident with announce ment of the loss of the carrier Wasp in the Solomors area Sept. 15. Damaged while conveying supplies to American forces on the islands. the Wasp was fatally wounded by three torpedoes from an enemy Sub- marine and sunk by an American destroyer after 90 per cent of the personnel abandoned ship.
 The reported toll of Japanese surface vessels during the current battle is two aircraft carriers dam aged, a heavy cruiser damaged and stopped, another heavy cruiser hit by g. bomb, and light cruiser hit by two bombs and left burning and dead in the water.
 Knox was asked during his press conference for comment on the Pa cif1c situation.
 | Same as Before
 "It's about the same as I said be- fore" the secretary said. "It's darn tough, stiff fight. It's still going on. Our men are putting up a splendid, game fight. The issue is joined but the outcome is not yet clear. The Japanese have a lot of strength"
 "In view of our ship losses. wouldn't you say this was the black est Navy Day celebration we've ever had?" a reporter asked.
 Nov, wait a minute" Knox snapped. 'In some respects, it's the most notable Navy Day in the course of all history because the navy never put up gamer fight than it is putting up right now"
 How do the JapS manager, de- spite their losses, to continue to throw more stuff into the fight?" he was asked.
 Whats going on out there is q war of attrition," Knox replied.
 Any comment on the loss of the Wasp?"
 'The Wasp was engaged in con- voy duty. She was escorting re- Inducements and protecting our lines of communications Military leaders are satisfied that the enemy knew nothing of her sinking"
 Revealed Last Night The Navy revealed the growing battle last night shortly after it ans nounced that the aircraft carrier Wasp was sunk by a Japanese sub. marine in the Solomons on Sept. la while covering reinforcements eu route to Guadalcanal.
 Shelled from the sea by Japanese warships, bombed and strafed from . the air, U. s. Marines and soldiers defending ''Hell's Patch"-a 25- square mile beach-head on the north coast of Guadalcanal-were holding another determined" enemy land assault.
 Latest reports gave the following picture of the all-out battle for the
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