RAIDS ON CELEBES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25661, 9 October 1944, Page 6

RAIDS ON CELEBES

HEAVY BLOWS STRUCK NEW ZEALANDERS HIT RABAUL (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) (Rec. 9 p.m.) SYDNEY. Oct. 8. Japanese positions in the Celebes and their snipping, in the area are being relentlessly attacked by General MacArthur’s bombers. Two major attacks are reported by South-west Pacific week-end communiques. More than 3000 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 3000-ton freighters and five smaller vessels. The destruction of two Japanese 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 weeks on Rabaul, in New Britain, was made on Friday, when New Zealand pilots took part in a 100-ton raid which started large fires in a truck park and 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.