PACIFIC WAR

Evening Star, Issue 25301, 9 October 1944, Page 5

PACIFIC WAR

i HEAVY RAIDS ON CELEBES RABAUL HAS FIRST ATTACK FOR WEEKS (N.Z.P.A Special Aust. Correspondent.) RYDNEY. October 8. Japanese positions in the Celebes and their shipping in the area are • being relentlessly attacked by General MacArthur's bombers. Two major at. tacks are reported by South-west Pacific week-end communiques. More than 3.000 tons of bombs have been dropped on Celebes targets during the past five weeks. The latest blows were against the big shipping .base of Menado and the air centre of Mendari, where widespread damage is claimed. The shipping sunk or damaged includes two 3.000-ton freighters and five smaller vessels. The destruction of 'two Japanesa minelayers, one near the Celebes and the other off.the Southern Philippines, is also reported. It is apparent that the enemy is attempting to disrupt the steady Allied advance against his captured empire by laying mines in our shipping lanes. The heaviest attack for many weeka on Kabaul, in New Britain, was made ' on Friday, when New Zealand pilots , s took part in a 100-ton raid which -. started large fires in a truck park aiid demolished buildings. The work of mopping up the Japanese remnants in both British and Dutch New Guinea continues. General MacArthur's communique to-day reports the killing of 600 more enemy troops, the capture of 150, and the release of 200 friendly nationals.