sentences:  Later, it became clear to the Australians that the Japanese were preparing for a major attack against Slater's Knoll, following the capture of a Japanese sergeant who confirmed that the probes were, in the words of Gavin Long, the "prelude to a full-scale offensive".These probes intensified on 30 March, as one of the 25th Infantry Battalion's companies was strongly attacked by the Japanese.The Australian position had been weakened by having about a third of its strength out on patrol at the time of the attack.