11. The Coastwatcher Scout Service operated under the eyes of the Japanese
On Wana Wana, the natives carrying Kennedy’s and Thom’s messages met with a Senior Scout named Benjamin Kevu. Kevu provided them with a better canoe for the treacherous journey to the American base at Rendova, and sent another native to inform Evans that Kennedy’s crew had been located. Neither message carried the location where the crew was hiding from the Japanese. Only the two natives, Gasa and Kumana, were aware of where the Americans could be found. A third scout known to Thom, John Kari, joined them on the long paddle to an Allied outpost on Roviana Island, a distance of some 38 miles from Wana Wana.
The waters they traversed were rough, with a high current running against them, and heavily patrolled by the Japanese against the possibility of American boats coming out from Rendova. It took the three natives more than fifteen hours of steady paddling for the canoe to cover the distance. At the same time, Kevu informed Evans of the men waiting on Olasana. The Australian dispatched a canoe laden with food to the Americans. The food arrived along with instructions for Kennedy to return it to a small island which was part of Kolombangara. Kennedy was hidden by lying under palm fronds at the bottom of the canoe as the natives paddled the distance. On the morning of August 7, Evans informed the Americans at Rendova that Kennedy’s crew had been found.
