Current Events October 15, 1942; SOLOMONS BATTLE INTENSIFIES IN FURY/ CHANGES IN DRAFT TO INCLUDE 18 YEAR OLDS:

            San Mateo Times

                              San Mateo October 15, 1942

SOLOMONS BATTLE ON
Big Jap Fleet Landing Troops

Draft May Pass By
Men With Children

U.S. ARMY UNITS ON
GUADALCANAL JOINING
IN DEFENSE OF ISLAND
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15.---(U.P)—A great battle was in
progress today for control of the Solomon Islands, with American
navy, marine, and army defenders fighting against the intensifying
fury of a powerful Japanese attempt to recapture
their lost bases.
Both sides sent in reinforcements. The Americans, it was
disclosed for the first time, include "United States army ground
troops.
The Japanese used heavy fleet units, including at least one
battleship, to cover new landings. The battleship was among
seven additional enemy ships dam-
aged in furious aerial and artillery
action.
The latest report on the Solomons
was contained in a Navy
communique which stated that 33
more Japanese planes bad been
destroyed or damaged. The communique
c a r r i e d the a c t i o n
through today (Solomons time).
Land on north
The Japanese landings were
taking place on the northern
coast of Guadalcanal, the island
where Hie marines have hung onto
an air field since early August.

Hershey Says
18-19 Boys May
Be Sufficient
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15.—
(U.P)—The house military affairs
committee today unanimously
approved legislation to
reduce the draft age to 18.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15.—
(U.P)—Selective Service Director
Maj. Gen. Lewis B. Hershey today
opposed provisions of pending
'teen-age draft legislation
that would permit 18 and 19-
year-olds to complete their
school year before! induction
into the army.
"If we are fighting for our
lives, high schools and colleges, and
finishing this and finishing that
must be secondary," Hershey told
the house military affairs committee.
He added that within the next
18 months 'teenagers may be playing
the decisive role in World war No. 2.