sentences:  Although incorrect, at the time the Allies believed that the Japanese forces on the island numbered around 17,500 men and while these forces were understrength, they were still considered to be capable of carrying out effective combat operations.In order to counter this, it was decided that the Australian II Corps—consisting of Militia and Australian Imperial Force troops from the 3rd Division and the 11th and 23rd Brigades—would go on the offensive and a three-pronged campaign was planned in the northern, central and southern sectors of the island.As a result, the Australian campaign on the island developed into three separate drives