Evening star., 1942-10-25
Allies Crack Through RommeILine
In Egypt Claim Air Superiority;
Halsey lakes HelminS South P Pacific
GhormieyRemovoI
Follows Recent
Jop Successes
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The Navy relieved Vice Ad-
miral Robert L. Ghormley OF his
command in the Solomon Is
lands yesterday and ordered Vice
Admiral william F. Halsey to
take charge of the developing
battle to hold American positions
there against recapture by the
japanese.
Admiral Ghormley's removal was
without official explanation other
than that he would be assigned to
new duties, the nature of which
would be announced later, and naval
spokesnlen said that it would be pure
speculation to link the shakeup
with recent Japanese successes in
the Solomons.
Nevertheless, it could not but be
recalled that in the operations there
the Navy has lost three cruisers,
five destroyers and four other ships
and now faces a difncult battle to
hold its island positions.
Halsey's Feats Lauded.
The japanese, preparing strong
and determined effort to retake the
SoIomons, succeeded in landing
troops on Guadalcanal and in
bringing numerous fighting ships,
transport and supply vessels into
the area.
Admiral Halsey. the Navy said,
conducted carrier operations in the
South Pacific area last spring with
distinguished success" Last Febru-
ary he was awarded a Distinguished
Service Medal for a successful raid
on the Marshall and Gilbert Islands.
The citation spoke of his brilliant
and audacious attack" and said that
"by his great skill and determina-
ton this drive inflicted heavy dam
age to enemy ships and planes"
The Gilbert Islands, it developed
yesterday. were the scene OF an
other American raid recently in
which in enemy destroyer and mer-
chant ship were damaged and two
small enemy patrol boats were
sunk, all by gunflre. The American
raiders also struck st the nearby
E1lice Islands with unar,hounced re-
suits except that no strong enemy
forces were encountered.
No New Solomons Action.
Naval officers described the op.
Grafton as probably 1 reconnais-
ance >raid intended to determine
whether enemy forces were gather
ing in those islands for a drive on
the Solomons, 97s miles away. The
communique said that no new ac-
ton had been reported from the
Solomons.
Another change announced yester-
day removed Vice Admiral William
S. Pye as commander of task force
in the South Pacific and replaced
him with Vice Admiral Herbert F
Leary, who had commanded NavaI
forces under Gen. Douglas MacAr-
thur. Admiral Pye was ordered tc
Newport, r. l., as president OF the
Naval War College.
Under Admiral Ghormley's com.
mand, marines successfully captured
strategic points in the Solomons by Q
carefully executed surprise attack
August Z. OF particular importance
they seized a Japanese-built airport
on Guadalcanal Island and the use.
full harbor at Tulagi on nearby Flor
ida Island.
Marines Guard Airport.
The Japanese were never driver
completely from Qua dalcanal
though the marines apparently wer'
in secure command of the airport
and the area Immediately surround
ing it. This was demonstrated wher
a force of TOO japanese made a land
ing attack shortly afterward. All 70'
were either killed or captured.
Recently there has been create
Japanese activity pointing to a ney
and powerful drive to force thu
(see HALSEY, Page A-5D