Meanwhile , Australian and US forces mounted Self_motion diversionary attacks Attack around Salamaua .

In the closing Body_movement stages of the battle , significant numbers of the defenders were withdrawn Escaping by sea or escaped Escaping overland toward the west and the Japanese base around Salamaua and Lae .

This proved Coming_to_believe to be a gruelling test of endurance for the Japanese soldiers who had to struggle Confronting_problem over the rugged mountains ; in the end , the Japanese Army managed to withdraw Escaping its forces from Salamaua and Lae , though with extensive losses Earnings_and_losses from exposure and starvation during the retreat Escaping .

In spite of the losses sustained during the air raid , Japanese forces successfully occupied Control Lae and Salamaua and began Process_start the construction of a base and airfield .

Australian and United States forces sought to capture two major Japanese bases , one in the town of Lae , and another one at Salamaua .

The campaign to take the Salamaua and Lae area began Process_start after the successful defence of Wau in late January , which was followed up by an Australian advance towards Mubo as the Japanese troops that had attacked Wau withdrew to positions around Mubo .

A series of actions followed over the course of several months as the Australian 3rd Division advanced north-east towards Salamaua .

As the Allies kept up the pressure on the Japanese around Salamaua , in early September they launched an airborne assault on Nadzab , and a seaborne landing near Lae , subsequently taking the town with simultaneous drives from the east and north-west .

As the situation around Lae grew more desperate , the Salamaua garrison withdrew Removing , and it was captured Conquering on 11 September 1943 , while Lae fell shortly afterwards on 16 September , bringing the campaign to an end .