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Volume 1 On the Songhua River Chapter 1082 War in Southeast Asia (2)

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    Chapter 1082: War in Southeast Asia (2)

    Alexander, the commander-in-chief of the British Army in Southeast Asia who had a pathological hatred for Tang Qiuli, finally tasted the bitter pill. The Japanese, whom he treated as honored guests and close allies, attacked the strongest traditional British force without giving him any warning.  area, the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia, carried out a comprehensive raid.  .

    On April 25, the 21st Division and the 126th Heavy Infantry Regiment of Japan's Southeast Asia Expeditionary Force, which attacked the southern port city of Yangon in Myanmar, rushed into the southern part of the almost ruined Yangon city. Previously,  Under the joint attack of naval guns and carrier-based aircraft of the Japanese Navy's First Fleet, the 7th Brigade of the British Army in Burma, which was fortified in the Yangon port area, has suffered casualties of more than half of its troops.

    Major General Etheridge, commander of the British garrison in Yangon, quickly deployed the troops garrisoned in the city, about 13,000 people, at the main strongholds leading from the port to the city. The Japanese suddenly attacked and defeated the British.  The army was in a hurry, and Major General Etheridge would never have thought that the close allies the day before, the sweet brother and the sweet sister, who were so affectionate, would fall out in the blink of an eye.

    After receiving an emergency call from the Yangon Port Guard, Major General Etheridge still couldn't believe it and loudly scolded the guard captain for lying about the military situation. Until the bomb from the Japanese plane exploded in the yard of the guard headquarters, splashing mud and air waves.  The glass was broken into pieces, and the major general's head was unfortunately cut open.

    This time, he believed it. The reason was very simple. Only the Japanese could take action against the British Imperial Army in Rangoon. Etheridge only had time to shout a few words on the phone, "I am the commander of the Rangoon Garrison."  In name, the port guard was ordered to hold their position and wait for reinforcements. "The phone line was cut without waiting for the port guard captain's reply.

    Major General Etheridge called a captain's staff officer and ordered: "Go to the Governor's Mansion immediately and inform Governor Ebsen that the Japanese army has suddenly launched a large-scale attack on Yangon. Please ask the Governor to organize personnel to evacuate Yangon immediately.  Go!" Etheridge knew himself. With the strength of the British army in Rangoon, it was absolutely impossible to prevent the Japanese army from landing at Rangoon Port.  .

    The total strength of the British army in Yangon originally consisted of one infantry division, one motorized mechanic division, plus two British-Burmese mixed brigades, and one light infantry brigade. The total strength was more than 46,000 people. With such a large number of troops, although  It cannot ultimately prevent the Japanese landing. At the very least, it can delay the Japanese occupation of Yangon, fight the Japanese for several rounds, and buy enough time for the British agencies and expatriates in Yangon to evacuate.

    However, in order to prepare for a large-scale counterattack against the Japanese division troops entering the Indochina Peninsula, Alexander transferred two divisions of British troops to the border area of ??Yunnan and Myanmar. Yangon almost became an empty city. Under the fierce Japanese attack  How long can it last under attack?  What's more serious is that the British army did not set up decent fortifications in Yangon at all. It should be said that this was all Alexander's fault.

    Etheridge knew better that it was only a matter of time before Rangoon fell. How long could a mixed force of more than 20,000 British and Burmese troops be able to sustain in the face of a three-dimensional attack by the Japanese army on land, sea and air? What he himself did was just try his best.  A soldier's duty is nothing more than resisting to the death to put it nicely, but to put it more realistically, it means lingering and stalling for time.

    If that bullshit Governor Ebsen and his yamen were not in Yangon, Major General Etheridge would have no reason to stick to Yangon. He would lead his troops to evacuate Yangon to avoid being surrounded and annihilated by the Japanese army with absolutely superior strength and firepower.  In Yangon, the soldiers were good, but there was no reason to die, so Major General Etheridge had no choice but to grit his teeth and set up defenses in the south of Yangon.

    The captain's staff he ordered to notify Governor Ebsen came back. He looked panicked, covered in mud and dust, and his beautiful military uniform was almost like a rag. He was very embarrassed. Etheridge's scalp tightened, and he had a premonition that something was going on.  Unfortunately, before the staff officer could catch his breath, he hurriedly asked: "Have you notified the Governor himself? Have the agencies and citizens started to evacuate?"

    The staff officer rolled his eyes, full of horror, and replied: "Your Excellency, General, the Governor's Mansion was destructively bombed and razed to the ground during the first Japanese air raid. Governor Ebsen's whereabouts are unknown, and the scene is being  To carry out search and rescue, the counselor of the Governor's Palace temporarily took over the authority of the Governor and asked me to come back and tell the general to send troops to assist the evacuation of the Governor's Palace and the residents."

    When Etheridge heard this, he almost jumped up and shouted loudly, "What? Send troops to assist in the evacuation? Are you kidding? My soldiers are all in the south of Yangon, desperately blocking the Japanese advance, suffering heavy casualties. At this time, how can any troops  Withdraw, tell the counselor that there is nothing I can do, and the royal troops stationed in Yangon can only hold on until four o'clock tomorrow morning. At that time, I will order the troops to evacuate Yangon. "

    Etheridge is telling the truth. By four o'clock tomorrow morning, the British and Burmese troops stationed in Yangon will be at their limit. We also need to include the time when the Japanese army stops attacking at night., he had just received a report from the troops. The Japanese army's artillery fire was extremely fierce. The shells fell like hail on the temporary barricades built by the British and Burmese troops. The outstanding descendants of Great Britain were mixed with bricks and rubble and turned into fragments flying all over the sky.  .

    Etheridge was panic-stricken, his light blue eyes glowing with a deathly gray sheen. It was only around four o'clock in the afternoon, and there were still twelve full hours before the scheduled evacuation time. He brought all the troops in Yangon to  After investing in it, he lost a quarter in less than a day. He had almost no confidence in the four o'clock in the morning promised to him.

    Thirteen hours have passed since the Japanese army began their attack. Only then did Etheridge think of reporting the news of Yangon being attacked by the Japanese army to General Alexander, the commander-in-chief in northern Burma. This shows that after the Japanese army's sudden attack,  In front of them, the British commander, who had neither actual nor psychological preparations, was confused and did not abandon the city and flee. It was already commendable.

    "Your Excellency, Commander-in-Chief, at 4 o'clock in the morning today, the Japanese army suddenly launched a three-dimensional attack on Yangon by land, sea and air. By 6 o'clock in the morning, the Japanese army landed at the port of Yangon, quickly occupied the port area, and continued to retreat towards the center of the city.  , I have ordered all troops in Yangon to go into battle to buy time for the evacuation of government agencies and expatriates. Our defensive forces are too weak, and we have not built strong fortifications. In order to avoid the fate of the entire army being annihilated, I plan to launch an attack at 4 a.m. tomorrow.  At that time, we evacuated Yangon and moved to the Mandalay area.¡±

    The situation was extremely urgent. His garrison headquarters was constantly attacked by Japanese long-range artillery. In addition to reporting this shocking news, Etheridge also told Alexander, I have decided to run away, with or without your order.  , don¡¯t think about letting me defend Yangon as soon as possible. With only such a small number of troops, what can I do to defend Yangon?

    From Etheridge's telegram to Alexander, it can be seen that the commander of the Rangoon garrison was full of resentment. If it weren't for you, the commander-in-chief who was a piece of shit, and transferred the main troops from Rangoon, I would have  There is no problem in holding Rangoon for a week. That is two fully equipped main infantry divisions with nearly 30,000 people!

    Moreover, if the motorized infantry division was still there, it would be very convenient for Etheridge to run. The wheels of the car were always faster than the two feet. It is no wonder that Etheridge was full of resentment. At first, Alexander was transferred  When he was in the army, Etheridge disagreed. Like his boss, he was not wary of the Japanese. He just felt that there were too few defensive troops for such an important port in Yangon, a strategic location for military strategists in southern Myanmar.  , I always feel that I don¡¯t have much support.

    For this matter, the two had a small dispute, which was not very pleasant. In the end, the official level suppressed the people. Alexander gave a hard order and transferred two divisions of troops. Etheridge resisted for thirty  Six hours, on the one hand, because of the huge disparity in strength with the Japanese army, on the other hand, it was also to vent the resentment in his heart and make Alexander uncomfortable.

    When he saw the telegram, Alexander was even more surprised than Major General Etheridge. He was so surprised that he almost collapsed. Alexander was in Myitkyina to centrally command and coordinate the various British troops transferred to northern Burma to join forces with the Japanese troops in the Savage Mountains.  Prepare for an all-out war against the Japanese divisions and regain the lost ground on the Southeast Asian border.

    The news of the Japanese army's attack on Yangon and Thailand was like a blow to the head, which made Alexander feel like he was crying with stars in his eyes. He never imagined that the Japanese had betrayed their faith and started fighting without declaring, taking advantage of the main force of the British army.  Focusing on the opportunity in northern Burma, Alexander launched a surprise attack. Alexander believed that he was interesting enough to the Japanese and had done everything he had to do.

    But why did the Japanese continue to attack Southeast Asia? He couldn't figure it out. Because he couldn't figure it out, he felt even more aggrieved. Grievance, anger, panic, fear, and all kinds of complex emotions flooded Alexander's heart. He had never felt anything like this before.  At this moment, as the highest military commander of the British colonies in Southeast Asia, he was completely confused.

    In the headquarters in Myitkyina, Alexander sat dumbly for a long time. Suddenly he jumped up and shouted angrily: "I want to protest, lodge a serious protest with the Japanese government, and protest against this invasion of the British Empire."  The aggression in overseas territories, secretary, draft a protest message immediately and send it out immediately!¡±

    No one of the other British officers in the headquarters said a word or took any action. They just looked at their commander with pity in their eyes and protested?  The Japanese war against the British Empire has broken out in full force. Rangoon is fighting fiercely and is about to be lost. On the Thai side, the Japanese offensive is overwhelming. In less than a week, Bangkok will not be protected. At this time, what kind of protest does the commander-in-chief make?

    ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? to ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? to may be driven insane by this shocking news, or maybe just kicked in the head by a donkey?  The Japanese are determined to conquer Southeast Asia, but you, Alexander, can solve it with just a paper of protest?  I protested against Tang Qiuli, but was there any result?  The Japanese took action, no better than the ChineseHow inferior Qiu Li is!

    (To be continued)

    !#
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