 The Allied command structure was soon put under strain by Australian reverses in the Kokoda Track campaign . MacArthur was highly critical of the Australian performance , and confided to the Chief of Staff of the United States Army , General George Marshall , that " the Australians have proven themselves unable to match the enemy in jungle fighting . Aggressive leadership is lacking . " MacArthur told Curtin that Blamey should be sent up to New Guinea to take personal command of the situation . Curtin later confessed that " in my ignorance ( of military matters ) I thought that the Commander in Chief should be in New Guinea . " Jack Beasley suggested that Blamey would make a convenient scapegoat : " Moresby is going to fall . Send Blamey up there and let him fall with it ! " 
