Current Events October 17, 1942; AMERICA POSITIONS IN SOLOMONS HANG IN BALANCE/ VESSEL TORPEDOED JUST OFF ST. LAWRENCE GULF:

          MASON CITY-GLOBE-GAZETTE
              MASON GITY, IOWA, SATURDAY. OCTOBER 17, 1942

YANKS FACE LARGE SCALE JAP FORCE
Nazis Storm Ahead in Stalingrad

NIPON ATTACK
IS DIRECTED AT
MAJOR AIRFIELD
Carrier Based Aircraft
Are Apparently Used
by Japanese Forces
BULLETINS
WASHINGTON. (U.P) — The
fate of American positions in
the Solomon islands hung in the
balance Saturday. There has
been no news of the fierce battle
for Guadalcanal island and its
vital airfield—at last reports
held by U. S. marines and army
troops—since late Friday. At
that time Secretary of Navy
Frank Knox said he "hoped and
expected" Americans would hold
the positions but that the battle
had not yet been determined.
**
WASHINGTON. (U.P)—Representative
John M. Costello, R.,
Cal., a member of- the house
military affairs committee, said
in the house Saturday that he
feared the navy "attempted to
conduct a grandstand play In
the Solomon islands without
asking (he aid of the army
ground and air forces."
By HARRISON SALISBURY
United Press Staff Correspondent
American marine and army
forces in the Solomons contended
Saturday against a large-scale
Japanese land, sea, and air attack
in what obviously was a major
attempt by Tokyo to regain
the positions taken from them in
the first allied offensive action of
the South Pacific.
Japan had large naval forces
m the Solomons region, including
battleships, and apparently was
employing carrier-based aircraft
to challenge American.air control
of - the - south -Solomons; Large-
Japanese forces, supplied- with "
artillery, were ashore on Guadacanal Island.

137 LOSE LIVES
AS SHIP SINKS
Vessel Torpedoed Just
Off St. Lawrence Gulf
SYDNEY, N. S., (AP)—An enemy
submarine, lurking just outside
the Gulf of St. Lawrence Wednesday
night, torpedoed and sank
the 2,200-ton N e w f o u n d l a n d
steamer Caribou, taking the livesof 137
 men, women and children
making an eight-hour overnight
trip from North Sydney. N. S., to
Port Aux Basques, Newfoundland.
* * *
Among the victims were 13
Americans, including eight U.
S. service men. Only one of 15
children aboard the vessel,
15 months old Leonard Shiers
of Halifax—survived the sudden
attack in Cabot Straight.