A number of Australian officers later questioned the caution with which it was conducted .
They had hoped to catch the remnants of the VC force before they could reach their mountain sanctuaries , but the operation proved unsuccessful in preventing their withdrawal .
A number of Australian officers later questioned the caution with which VC was conducted .
They had hoped to catch the remnants of the VC force before they could reach their mountain sanctuaries , but the operation proved unsuccessful in preventing their withdrawal .