Imperial Valley press., 1942-10-28
Jops Spread Out
To Peril Supply
Lines i'm Pacific

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28-CUPl -
The battle of the Solomons. raging
furiously on and around Guadal-
canal island where japanese
breakthrough was turned back, to-
day has spread hundreds of miles
10 the east toward Americas Pa
cific communication lines
American fliers have attacked
strong japanese naval forces north
of the new Hebrides and the Fiji
islands on which are United States
advance bases.
The penetration Of the American
lines on Guadalcanal occurred Sun
day night island time after 2
dav- long attack on the south side
of the airfield But L. s. army
troops defending that sector chas-
eu the enemy back and 'regalneo
their positions" Marines defend
Ing the western side of the alrfield
also were engaged in heavy fight
ing. but the navy reported that
they had scored small gains
JAPS CONTROL SEA
Although the focal point of the
battle into which Japan has thrown
vast numbers of troops, airplanes
and warships is the airfield on
Guadalcanal. the fighting extends
over hundreds of miles at sea which
the enemy continues to dominate.
The last report by the navy in its
communioue last night showed that
the Americans have sunk two Japa-
nese destroyers and damaged three
other cruisers and an aircraft car
rier which may have been damaged
in previously announced action.
No better evidence of the desper-
ate fight being waged in those
South Sea islands has come from
the navy than the report last night
that non-combatant units OF Amer
ican naval forces are in action.
DESTROYERS SUNK
Two American minesweepers en-
gagged three japanese destroyers
near Guadalcanal until naval and
marine aircraft joined the fray
and sank two of the destroyers.
In another action on the same
day Sunday. A japanese destroy
er sank the U. S. S. Seminole, a
fleet tug. and a small harbor patrol
boat near Tulagi The destroyer
was badly damaged by shore bat
teries which scored three hits and
Gruman Wildcat" fighters from
Guadalcanal which strafed the ship
as it fled.
Monday morning American bomb
ers and fighters on Guacalcanal
took off for the third time IN two
days TO attack an enemy task force
OF cruisers and destroyers that has
been in the waters north of Florida
island. On their third trip, the
American airmen scored a direct
hit on an enemy cruiser The day
before they had hit and stopped
a cruiser, hit another cruiser and
left burning and dead in the water
a light cruiser.
JAPS SPREAD OUT
But the latest development seems
TO be the presence Of apparently
large enemy surface forces about
400 miles northeast of Guadalcanal
far from the major scene of ac-
ton. There was no official ex-
PLANTATION, but it was pointed out
that from the point where those
forces were intercepted by American
airmen, the japanese could have
struck at Espiritu Santo, an Ameri-
can base in the New Hebrides, or
at the Fiji islands. Il short sailing
distance of the east are the Sa-
moan islands, another major Amer
ican base and key point in the sup
ply line between Hawaii and Aus
tralia
The last action against that
enemy force was Monday night
which navy CONSOLIDATED "Cata-
linas" attacked it. The force was
the same one believed attacked the
day before by a naval carrier air
force east of the Stewart islands.
CARRIER HIT
The night attack of the 'Cata-
linas" resulted ~ a torpedo hit on
an enemy carrier and two bomb
hits on an enemy cruiser. Those
were administered in the midst Of
heavy anti-aircraft fire during
which one Americah plane was
damaged.
the navy revealed further reports
on the earlier air battle with pre-
sunably that same force earlier in
the day. One enemy aircraft car
rier was badly damaged, another