Japanese naval forces leaving Rabaul for Salamaua according to the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary dated 8 March 1942

An item reported that on 6 March Japanese forces were sighted underway from Rabaul, Papua New Guinea towards Salamaua including 3 heavy cruisers and 5 destroyers. At Rabaul were 25 merchant ships, 3 transports and 5 destroyers seen and a day later there 3 cruisers, 4 transports and 1 hospital ship. The J.I.C. commented that Salamaua with her many airfields would serve the Japanese excellent as operations base for eastern New Guinea.

Source

Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 88 dated 8 March 1942.