After having lost the first five scenarios of the campaign as the Australian player, I went into this scenario with a mixture of resignation on the one side, but somewhat bitter determination on the other.

This time the things went far much better for the Australians than expected, so I can recommend the following tactic:

1) Try to avoid combat; the Japanese are better and have more troops, so the statistic is on their side.

2) Leave 2-unit teams, infantry/infantry or better infantry/HMG behind on the track to cover the retreat.

3) Leave an other team adjacent but behind the just mentioned team also on the track. This way you can prevent the Japanese player from ecircling or just bypassing the frontline team.

4) Fall back on every occasion. Even if the Japanese player has just activated and you could shoot on him with the +2 modifier for adjacent fire. First, you avoid combat and thus casualties (remember the Japanese +1 modifier on clause assaults the enemy will have next turn assaulting you!); second, you win time, your gratest ressource in this scenario.

This way you can significantly slow down the Japanese advance. With this tactic I could stop with only two squads or so half of the enemy army for several turns!

I lost the scenario due to an enemy breakthrough on my right flank, so my opponent scored a tactical victory. Nevertheless this time the fight was on equal terms and I could avoid the carnage I suffered in the first scenarios.

I think we won't continue the Kokoda Campaign because it is somewhat boring: the fight in the jungle just does not offer enough variation on this game scale.