Units of the Imperial and the naval landing force extended the arm of Japanese operations to the Bismarck Islands east of New Guinea . Though swift landing operations executed in the early dawn near Kavieng at New Ireland and near Rabaul at New Britain , the defending Australian troops were quickly routed . Taken unaware the Australians took to flight after hurriedly carrying out scorched earth tactics . Photo shows Naval Landing units mopping up remnants of the enemy forces .