MADANG CAPTURED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24879, 28 April 1944, Page 3

MADANG CAPTURED

AUSTRALIAN SUCCESS GREAT QUANTITY OF BOOTY (Special Australian Correspondent^ (Reed. 5.40 p.m.) * SYDNEY, April 27 Australian forces have captured Madang, formerly one of the most formidable Japanese bases in New Guinea. Great quantities of arms, supplies and other equipment have been taken. The troops entered the town after overcoming light rearguard opposition. The capture of Madang brings to a successful conclusion the difficult campaign through Ramu Valley, during which the Australians had to overcome some of the worst conditions of warfare. Madang is 280 air miles south-east of Aitane, one of the three points invaded by tne American forces last Saturday. The next Japanese base to Madang is Alexishafen, about eight miles further up the coast. The Australians entered Madang on Monday afternoon. The conditions at the base suggested that the main body of Japanese formerly garrisoned there had abandoned it about a month ago. Extensive demolitions had been carried out. , 4 As well as a valuable airfield, Madang will afford excellent harbour facilities. Once the capital of German New Guinea, it was occupied by the Japanese late in 1942. The campaign of which its capture marks the climax began in October last year. HUGE COST OF WAR (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) NEW YORK, April 26 The belligerent nations have spent almost 1,000,000.000,000 dollars on the present war, which is almost double that spent on the world war, according to Mr. Hoy Hendrickson, deputy-Direc-tor-General of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration. He added that the Allied war costs in 1944 were over 150,000.000,000. The Axis had been spending about the same amount, but Allied costs were now advancing faster.