 The campaign started well ; Lae was captured well ahead of schedule . Blamey then handed over command of New Guinea Force to Mackay and returned to Australia . The 7th Division then advanced through the Ramu Valley while the 9th Division landed at Finschhafen . The campaign then slowed owing to a combination of logistical difficulties and Japanese resistance . Blamey responded to a request from Mackay to relieve Herring , whose chief of staff had been killed in an aircraft accident . He immediately sent Morshead . In February 1944 there was criticism in Parliament of the way that Blamey had " side tracked " various generals ; the names of Bennett , Rowell , Mackay , Wynter , Herring , Lavarack , Robertson , Morshead and Clowes were mentioned . Blamey responded , 
