NEXT OBJECTIVE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 34, 9 August 1943, Page 5

NEXT OBJECTIVE

MAY BE KULOMBANGRA

(Special P.A. Correspondent.)

SYDNEY, August 8. With Munda captured by the Americans, an- assault on Kulombangra Island is the logical next step in the Allies' South-west Pacific offensive. This view is expressed by an Australian war correspondent in the Solomons. Heavy artillery on the northern coast of New Georgia will be able to shell Vila air base across Kula Gulf —just as Munda had been shelled from Rendova Island.

The fall of Munda carries the Allies nearly halfway to their objective, Rabaul. It will provide a bomber base just 400 miles from this enemy Southwest Pacific stronghold. Japan's northern Solomons bases are also brought within easy range—Kahili 125 miles, Kieta 140. "Buka 220. The correspondent says that Munda is a valuable point for the invasion of Bougainville —generally regarded as an essential preliminary to an attack against Rabaul. With Munda in our hands, Allied warships will be able to operate farther north under cover of landbased aircraft, which will also be given extra hours of flying time over Japanese territory. Munda is 175 miles north of Henderson airfield, on Guadalcanal. Its capture, just one year after the Allied landing on Guadalcanal, has been accompanied by a tremendous toll of Japanese ships and aircraft.

In the past 12 months 96 Japanese warships and naval auxiliaries have been sunk. 18 probably sunk, and 129 damaged in the South Pacific command area. :

In addition, 1802 Japanese aircraft