 <unk> set the date for his attack on the <unk> perimeter for 12 September and began marching his forces west from <unk> towards <unk> Point on 5 September . He <unk> 17th Army and requested that it carry out air strikes on Henderson Field beginning on 9 September , and that naval warships be stationed off <unk> Point on September 12 to " destroy any Americans who attempted to flee from the island . " On 7 September , <unk> issued his attack plan to " <unk> and <unk> the enemy in the vicinity of the <unk> Island airfield . " <unk> 's plan called for his forces to split into three , approach the <unk> perimeter inland , and launch a surprise night attack . <unk> 's force would attack the perimeter from the west while <unk> 's Second <unk> — renamed the <unk> Battalion — would attack from the east . The main attack would be by <unk> 's " Center Body " , numbering 3 @,@ 000 men in three battalions , from the south of the <unk> perimeter . By 7 September , most of <unk> 's troops had started marching from <unk> towards <unk> Point along the coastline . About 250 Japanese troops remained behind to guard the brigade 's supply base at <unk> . 
