Current Events November15' 1942; AMIRICAN AND JAPANES FLEETS SLUG IT OUT IN SOLOMONS / AUSSIE, YANKS CLOSE IN ON BUNA / ALLIES DRIVE ON TUNIS / MAITIME TRAINS OFFICERS:

         Oakland Tribune

     OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1942

LOSSES HEAVY IN PACIFIC SEA BATTLES

U. S. - JAP FLEET STILL

Fight Over Vast Area

Two Powerful Fleets

Are Slugging it Out;

Details Kept Secret

By JOHN HIGHTOWER

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14.—(^—Powerful

groups of American and Japanese warships

are slugging it out in the vicinity of the Solomon

Islands today in an aftermath of a heavy

American Naval bombardment of enemy positions

on Guadalcanal. Both sides have "suf-

fered losses," a Navy communique

said, but it added that

no details will be reported

while the battle continues because

of the value of such information

to the foe.

Aussies, Yanks Close

In On Japs at Buna;

Hundreds Slain

GENERAL MacARTHUR'S HEADQUARTERS,

Australia, Nov. 15. (Sunday)—(/P)—

Australians, who fought across the Owen Stan-

ley Mountains, and Americans, flown to the

battle scene in aerial transports, are closing

in on the Jap-held coastal base of Buna, in

Northeast New Guinea, the high command

reported today.

The rapid advance, made

possible by the recent encirclement

and complete destruction

of more than 500

Japs at Oivi and Gorari, represents

the Allies' first bid for a major

foothold on the North coast—a

step toward running the Japs out

of all New Guinea.

OTHER SHIPS BOMBED

ALLIES DRIVE ON TUNIS

AS GIRAUD BATTLES NAZIS

Axis Rushes More Troops As British

and Americans Pour Across Border

By the Associated Press

LONDON, Nov. 15.—(Sunday)—Powerful American and

British forces struck toward Tunis by land, sea and air today

for a showdown clash with German and Italian troops

who continued to land in increasing numbers despite resistance

of French forces reported to be led by Gen. Henri

Giraud.

U.S. Maritime to

Train Officers

Experts Selected for

Teaching Staff of

Alameda School

While the Army is turning out

second lieutenants and the Navy

ensigns, to help in winning the

present World War, the Merchant

Marine, not to be outdone in squaring

up for the big fight on hand

and for the time following the war,

is also preparing its shavetail officers,

the third mates.

As soon as the new U.S. Maritime

Service Officers Training School

in operation at the site of old Neptune

Beach in Alameda an average

of 1000 third mates in every four

months will be sent to sea to help

operate the growing fleet of mer-

chant ships now being turned out

in the hundreds of shipyards all

over the Nation. Men who have

had 14 months or more of active

sea duty are eligible to entry in the

school and students are paid $126

a month.