RIVER OF RED   October 23rd, 1942 -

On the 20th of October, General Sumiyoshi began probing the American defenses 
on the Mantanikau River held by the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Division. This 
would be the third attack on the river line with tanks advancing across the 
wide sand bars. This attack was to coincide with support from another company 
of tanks, but this support never appeared. With dogged determination the 
Japanese attacked but only a single tank breached the American lines. The 
Japanese losses were heavy, some 600 men killed while trying to cross the 
river.
