Complex sentence: Beginning their advance, the Australians began to suffer casualties, yet were initially unable to confirm the location of the Chinese; however, as they commenced their ascent they were met by heavy small arms fire from the higher ground to the south and east.
Split into simpler sentences: Beginning their advance, the Australians began to suffer casualties; yet they were initially unable to confirm the location of the Chinese. However, as they commenced their ascent they were met by heavy small arms fire from the higher ground to the south and east.