, ▁Comp an ies ▁A , ▁B , ▁and ▁F ▁set ▁out ▁with ▁the ▁intention ▁of ▁entering ▁the ▁L ung a ▁per imeter ▁near ▁the ▁Mat an ik au ▁River . ▁Al ong ▁the ▁way , ▁the ▁Marine ▁column ▁was ▁amb ushed ▁by ▁a ▁Japanese ▁mach in eg un ▁team ▁that ▁killed ▁four ▁ra iders . ▁Seven ▁Japanese ▁were ▁killed ▁in ▁this ▁sk irm ish . ▁The ▁pat rol ▁encountered ▁no ▁further ▁opposition ▁and ▁entered ▁friendly ▁lines ▁at ▁L ung a ▁Point ▁by ▁mid - af ternoon . ▁ ▁After math ▁ ▁As ▁Carl son ' s ▁batt alion ▁was ▁ending ▁its ▁pat rol , ▁Sh ō ji ▁and ▁his ▁surv iving ▁troops ▁were ▁reaching ▁friendly ▁positions ▁west ▁of ▁the ▁Mat an ik au . ▁In ▁addition ▁to ▁the ▁losses ▁sust ained ▁from ▁attacks ▁by ▁Carl son ' s ▁ra iders , ▁a ▁lack ▁of ▁food ▁and ▁tropical ▁dise ases ▁fel led ▁many ▁more ▁of ▁Sh ō ji ' s ▁men . ▁By ▁the ▁time ▁Sh ō ji ' s ▁forces ▁reached ▁the ▁L ung a ▁River ▁in ▁mid - Nov ember , ▁about ▁half way ▁to ▁the ▁Mat an ik au , ▁only ▁ 1 , 3 0 0   men ▁remained ▁with ▁the ▁main ▁body . ▁When ▁Sh ō ji ▁reached ▁the ▁ 1 7 th ▁Army ▁positions ▁west ▁of ▁the ▁Mat an ik au , ▁only ▁ 7 0 0 - 8 0 0 ▁surv iv ors ▁were ▁still ▁with ▁him . ▁Sur viv ors ▁from ▁Sh ō ji '