the operations were characterised by prolonged small-scale patrolling with small-scale company attacks. progress was slowed by the difficulties of transporting supplies overland or by barge and the flash flooding of a number of the rivers the australians had to cross. in one incident, seven men from the 2/3rd battalion drowned in the swollen waters of the danmap river which had risen suddenly after a torrential downpour. after dogreto bay was occupied, the supply problems eased somewhat for the australians. on 16 march 1945, the airfields at but and dagua on the coast were occupied, although fighting continued further inland from there over the course of the following fortnight as the australians fought to gain control of the tokuku pass. on 25 march, lieutenant albert chowne, a platoon commander from the australian 2/2nd battalion led an attack on a japanese position that was holding up the advance on wewak. for his actions he was posthumously awarded the victoria cross. heavy fighting continued for four days after this, and the australians resorted to the use of flame throwers for the first time in the war, using them effectively against heavily entrenched japanese positions; the weapon had a profound psychological effect, boosting the morale of the australians and sapping that of the japanese defenders, many of whom simply fled in the face of flame thrower teams.