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From 1944 to 1945 the number of Papuans employed by the US to control marlia
mosquito populations raised from 1,000 to 2,000.
The issue of of the local heat and humidity which made life difficult for the
US visitors as it had for the Japanese invaders, could not be addressed although
the local welcome may have assisted morale.
Meanwhile US figures in Papua were around 15% of the wounded died,
which compared well to the Japanese experience where some 65% of the Japanese
troops had died from exposure, marlia, and malnutrition.
When a US airplane crashed in the highlands where no whiteman had ever
been seen before, again they found a friendly welcome and hospitality
from the local Papuan people.
Although the Japanese had attempted to destroy the local food gardens,
aid was so still forthcomming for their US allies.
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