 For the Japanese , the supply situation around Sattelberg was worsening . Although some supplies were successfully air dropped , the defenders were reduced to consuming only a third of the standard daily ration and Katagiri 's supply of artillery shells was very low , despite adherence to strict fire discipline . Given the desperate supply situation , which was made all the worse when the 24th Brigade cut the track between Gusika and Wareo , the Japanese 18th Army commander , Adachi , gave Katagiri approval to withdraw from Sattelberg after 20 November . Katagiri subsequently ordered Colonel <unk> Miyake , the commander of the 80th Infantry Regiment , to inflict as many casualties upon the Australians as possible and then begin a progressive withdrawal to Wareo . Nevertheless , Katagiri was determined to launch a counterattack further to the north @-@ east . When formulating his defence plans in October , he had originally intended to launch an attack from Nongora with the 79th Infantry Regiment on 25 November , however , with the Australians advancing steadily towards the main position at Sattelberg , Katagiri decided to bring this forward in order to take some of the pressure off the troops defending the mission . After moving into position on 21 November , the attack was launched the following day . 
