Guadalcanal
A new Marine offensive begins. The objective is to establish a line far enough to the west to keep the Japanese beyond artillery range of Henderson Field. Signs from all sources indicate that the Japanese are preparing for offensive action. The division's plan of attack calls for the 5th Marines, less 1 battalion, to execute a holding attack at the mouth of the Matanikau, crossing the river on divisional order, while the 7th Marines, less 1 battalion, and 1 reinforced battalion envelop Point Cruz. The reinforced battalion under Col Wm J. Whaling is composed of the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, and the Division's Scout-Sniper Detachment. The Whaling group is to follow the 5th Marines along the coast road, then turn southwest and move inland to a point about 2,000 yards southwest of the river mouth where the Matanikau is narrow. Next, they are to cross the river on a makeshift bridge, turn right and attack. They are to attack north along the first ridge west of the river. The 7th Marines, less 1 battalion, is to follow the Whaling Group across the river, advance beyond the first ridge and attack northward with battalions abreast on the left of the Whaling Group. If the attacks succeed in reaching the beach and destroying the Japanese in the process, the 5th Marines will pass through the Whaling Group and the 7th Marines to attack west toward Kokumbona. The 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, is in reserve.
The 1st Marine Air Wing will support the offensive with dive bombing and strafing. The 1st Battalion, 11th Marines, will provide direct artillery support to the 7th Marines; the 2nd Battalion, to the 5th Marines; and the 5th Battalion, to the Whaling Group. The 3rd Battalion will cover the perimeter while the other 3 are engaged.
The Japanese also prepare a plan of attack. In preparation for a counteroffensive against Lunga Point, the 17th Army and the 2nd Division order the 4th Infantry, under Col Tadamasu Nakaguma, to seize positions east of the Matanikau around October 8 for use by the artillery. The 1st Battaion, 4th Infantry, is to occupy the Point Cruz area and cross the Matanikau at its mouth while the 3rd Battalion makes a crossing further inland. If the 4th Infantry's attack succeeds, the Japanese will be able to deny the Marines the Matanikau River, one of the best defensive lines west of the Lunga. Fortunately the Marines began their attack before the Japanese could put their plan into action.
The attacking Marines pass through the perimeter defense line near Kukum at 0700 heading for the line of departure. About 1005 the advance guard of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, meets enemy fire several hundred yards east of the river. The 3rd Battalion deploys and forces the enemy slowly back toward the river, while the 2nd Battalion moves to the left around the 3rd. Meeting no opposition, the 2nd Battalion reaches the river by 1148. The Whaling Group and the 7th Marines, having turned southwest in column, advance about 3,000 yards toward Hill 65. They meet light rifle fire but reach Hill 65 and bivouac there for the night.
Some Japanese escape over the river, but others halt part of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, just short of the east bank of the river, and retain a small bridgehead about 400 yards south of the river mouth. 1 company of the 1st Raider Bn, with about half its organized strength, moves up to reinforce the 5th Marines' right flank.
During the night, the 5th Marines and the raider company hold a 1,500-yd front enxtending inland from the river mouth, and bowed to the east around the Japanese bridgehead. The Whaling Group and the 7th Marines occupy bivouac areas on high ground overlooking the river about 800 yards southeast of the 5th Marines' left flank. As a diversion, the 5th Marines noisily simulate preparations for an immediate river crossing trying to convince Japanese they are threatened by a tank attack across the river mouth. Otherwise the night is uneventful.
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