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           Thoughtheirresourceswerepitifullystretched,theirarmiesfounderingfromlackofsuppliesandreinforcements,theymadetheAmericansandtheAustralianspayforeveryinchtheygainedback.Inretreat,theJapaneseabandonedBuna,Gona,Salamaua,andslippedbackupthenorthcoast,toLaeandFinschafen.

           OnthefifthofSeptember1943theNinthDivisionwaslandedfromtheseajusteastofLae.Itwashot,thehumiditywas100percent,anditrainedeveryafternoonthoughTheWetwasn’tdueforanothertwofullmonths.ThethreatofmalariameanteveryonewastakingAtabrine,andthelittleyellowtabletsmadeeveryonefeelassickasiftheyhadtheactualmalaria.Alreadytheconstantmoisturemeantpermanentlydampbootsandsocks;feetwerebecomingspongy,thefleshbetweenthetoesrawandbloody.Mockaandmosquitobitesturnedangry,ulcerated.

           InPortMoresbytheyhadseenthewretchedstateoftheNewGuineanatives,andiftheycouldn’tstandtheclimatewithoutdevelopingyaws,beriberi,malaria,pneumonia,chronicskindiseases,enlargedliversandspleens,therewasn’tmuchhopeforthewhiteman.ThereweresurvivorsofKokodainPortMoresbyaswell,victimsnotsomuchoftheJapanesebutofNewGuinea,emaciated,massesofsores,deliriouswithfever.TentimesasmanyhaddiedfrompneumonianinethousandfeetupinfreezingcoldwearingthintropicalkitasdiedfromtheJapanese.