KAHILI RAIDED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 93, 16 October 1943, Page 7

KAHILI RAIDED

PRELIMINARY TO RABAUL

SYDNEY, October 15. After Tuesday's record air attack on Rabaul the weather in that area became unfayourable for flying, and has since restricted air operations. Tuesday's strike was carried out in bad weather, which later worsened. General Mac Arthurs communique today reveals that following Sunday's heavy raid on Kahili aerodrome, on Bougainville Island, more than 100 Allied planes from the South Pacific Command again struck at Kahili on Monday. Once more great, damage was done, and 12 Japanese planes attempting interception were shot down. These attacks against Kahili helped to pin down possible air reinforcements for Rabaul. General Mac Arthur's bombers continue to take heavy toll of enemy shipping. In the Banda Sea on Wednesday Liberators bombed and damaged a medium-sized transport, while Catalina.s strafed and damaged a small schooner near Sumba Island. At Koepang on Tuesday night Hudsons damaged a 100-ton ship in the harbour, and off the north-east coast of Thr;or Catalinas left an 800-ton merchantman smoking after a strafing attack. North' of New Britain five enemy cargo ships were attacked by Catalinas on Wednesday. At Matchin Bay, near Buka, off the northern tip of Bougainville Island, Mitchells attacked two Japanese cargo ships. Both were hit so badly that it is believed they were left sinking.