Navy Department Communique No. 156

OCTOBER 16, 1942

South Pacific (all dates below are east longitude).

1. A large number of enemy troops with equipment have been landed on Guadalcanal Island and our positions are now being shelled by enemy artillery on the island.
2. The following additional details of the action in the Solomon Islands in recent days have been received:
• (a) During the morning of October 14th our search planes strafed and damaged nine enemy planes on the beach at Rekata Bay.
• (b) During the same afternoon Navy and Marine Corps dive bombers, with fighter escort, left Guadalcanal and made two attacks on the enemy transports which were approaching the island. Minor damage was reported and one U. S. fighter was lost.
• (c) During the night of October 14-15, our positions on Guadalcanal were shelled by enemy vessels to the northward of the island. U. S. motor torpedo boats attacked these ships and reported one probable torpedo hit on a cruiser.
3. A large group of enemy ships has been observed in the Buin-Faisi area near Shortland Island, in addition to the various units in the southeastern Solomons.

All information on the fighting in the Solomons which is not of value to the enemy is being announced as soon as possible after being received.