 For the Australians, a significant advantage was gained through the technological edge that Allied industry had achieved over the Japanese by this phase of the war, while the Japanese were hampered by a lack of supplies and reinforcements due to Allied interdiction efforts at sea and in the air.The campaign was preceded by an amphibious landing by troops from the Australian 9th Division east of Lae on 4 September 1943.This was followed by an advance west along the coast towards the town where they were to link up with 7th Division advancing from Nadzab.