Rabaul, on the northern tip of New Britain, has been one of Japan’s major bases in the South-west Pacific area. Allied Air Forces have raided the base every day this year that the weather has permitted. During January they destroyed, according to official figures, more than 500 Japanese planes and sank or damaged four cruisers, eight destroyers, and a gunboat, and about 125,000 tons of enemy auxiliary shipping. The latest step in the reduction of Rabaul and Kavieng, the base in New Ireland north of New Britain, has been the invasion by New Zealand and American Forces of Nissan Island, north of the Solomons and 135 miles east of Rabaul. Landings in New Britain had previously been made at Cape Gloucester, on the south-west tip of the island, and Arawe, on the south coast.

Korero (AEWS), Volume 2, Issue 4, 28 February 1944, Page 16-17

Rabaul, on the northern tip of New Britain, has been one of Japan’s major bases in the South-west Pacific area. Allied Air Forces have raided the base every day this year that the weather has permitted. During January they destroyed, according to official figures, more than 500 Japanese planes and sank or damaged four cruisers, eight destroyers, and a gunboat, and about 125,000 tons of enemy auxiliary shipping. The latest step in the reduction of Rabaul and Kavieng, the base in New Ireland north of New Britain, has been the invasion by New Zealand and American Forces of Nissan Island, north of the Solomons and 135 miles east of Rabaul. Landings in New Britain had previously been made at Cape Gloucester, on the south-west tip of the island, and Arawe, on the south coast.