Evening star., 1943-08-07
Allied Planes Batter
Vulnerable Jap Spots
In SoIomons Area
BY the Associated Press

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN
THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC
Aug. 7.-Vulnerable spots where
the next blows against the
japanese may fall, now that
Munda has been captured, felt
the fiery impact of America s
growing air might in the Pacific
during raids reported in today
communique from Gen. Douglas
Macarthur.
American fighters whipped a nu-
merically superior enemy in an air
battle off Southern Bougainville
That enemy air and shipping sector
is the most formidable barrier still
between United States forces and
Japan's mighty fortress of Rabaul,
New Britain.
American bombers, "in all cate
gories with fighter escort"-a re-
curing phrase In Pacific reports
which yet is new enough to excite
the emotions-blasted Rekata Bay.
a fioatplane base, with IS tons of
explosives. 1t is on Santa Isabel
Island, northeast of New Georgia,
f1anking the line of advance and
supply from Guadalcanal to Munda.
Its elimination is vital
Supply Barges Wrecked.
Other bombers 750 miles to the
west ranged along the New Guinea
coast. wrecking the supply barges
Japan is utilizing to maintain the
garrison at Salamaua, New Guinea.
Salamaua, menaced by Australians
and Americans only miles away.
is the objective of the left prong of
the offensive which opened last June
30 Munda was the goal on the
right.
On Munda jungle troops famed
out from the newly won 4,000-foot
airstrip into nearby nangrove
swamps, tracking down fleeing
stragglers of the crushed Japanese
garrison. More than 1900 enemy
dead have been counted, and there
likely are many more.
"a dispatch from William Hip
pie, Associated Press war corre-
spondent at South Pacifi, head
quarters, said Army engineers
and Navy Seabees were under
taking immediate repairs to bat
tered Munda airdrome for use in
coming operations against Ra-
baul, 420 miles northwest. Munda
was captured in midafternoon
August 5, Guadalcanal time. The
enemy concentrated an estimat-
ed 1000 troops on New Georgia
Island, among 10000 believed
holding strategic enemy bases in
the Central Solomons. Nipple de-
clared the immediate task ahead
of our forces is the capture of
Villa airfield on Kolombangara
Island. only 9 miles north of
Munda.)
In the Bougainville air fight 16
planes sought battle with 80 zeros,
downing seven while losing one.
The scene of the action was at
BUM -Faisi, which includes the en-
emy's Kahili Airdrome.
Now that the japanese have lost
In succession Henderson airfield on
Guadalcanal and the Munda air.
field, Kahili is the biggest air base
remaining in their hands in the
Solomons.
Hints of developments to come
In the Pacific were supplied at
three other points:
Cat naval headquarters in the
South Pacific, Admiral William
r. Halsey. jr., promised. 1--WE
shall push forward until the
battle of the South Pacific be-
comes the battle OF Japan" He
said we view what lies ahead
with the satisfaction that comes
from thus far having soundly
beaten powerful enemy in every
phase of air and sea warfare"
Cat an unidentified advance
base it was disclosed that Lit.
Gen. Alexander A. Vandegrift.
who led the marines ashore on
Guadalcanal year ago, is back
on the job. Expressing his pleas
ue over the planes, ships and
men available for current oper-
atlonS, ne gave assurance tine
amphibious corps is ready for
action anywhere"
(And at Honolulu, the COM
mander in chief of the Pacific
feet, Admiral Chester w. Nimitz,
said the japanese, after tenn
porary conquests" now must
stand ready everywhere for as
sault from the surface and
air. - ~
Meanwhile, the complete victory
at Munda drew q message of COM
mendation from Gen. Macarthur
for Admiral William r. Halsey, his
local commanders in the South
Pacific and for AL components of
the forces engaged, ground, naval
and air"
177 pTnnn A~.x:~ D:J