Add Bookmark | Recommend this book | Back to the book page | My bookshelf | Mobile Reading

Free Web Novel,Novel online - All in oicq.net -> Historic -> Rebirth of the war years

Volume 1 On the Songhua River Chapter 1581 The Disgraced 5th U.S. Infantry Division

Previous page        Return to Catalog        Next page

    The sudden report from the communications staff interrupted Stilwell's inspiration. A bright light suddenly appeared in his mind, which seemed to capture the essence of the matter. Then it suddenly went out, and his thinking became chaotic again. Whether it was an ordinary person or a general, this state  Next, if your train of thought is interrupted, you won¡¯t be in a good mood!

    Stilwell was full of anger and wanted to kick him to death. The communications staff officer who came at the wrong time said coldly: "Read it!" Although the staff officer was aware of the anger of the former chief of staff and current commander, he did not feel it.  Surprised, ever since General Stilwell, commander of the 7th Infantry Division, came to the Calais Mountains, not a single day has been pleasant. The staff officers who followed him were all used to it.  .

    The staff officer quickly opened the folder and read: "Major General Cindy Hall, commander of the 5th Infantry Division, called to tell us that the defensive positions of the 18th and 19th Infantry Regiments of our division were violently attacked by the Japanese army at about 5 o'clock this afternoon, and the troops suffered casualties.  "It's very big. I would like to ask Your Majesty the Commander for permission to retreat from the current position to the Palapag line and re-establish the blocking line."

    Stilwell frowned. If Major General Cindy Hall's request was approved, it would mean that the entire defense line of the 5th Infantry Division would be withdrawn from its current position by at least 40 kilometers, next to the 8th of the 5th Infantry Division.  The defensive position of the Infantry Division has become a prominent position. All the Japanese attack pressure will be concentrated on the Eighth Infantry Division. It can be said that a single move can affect the whole body.

    The Japanese army made no major moves all day today, but in the evening, they launched a fierce attack on the position of the 5th Infantry Division. Could it be that the Japanese army wanted to choose the defensive direction of the 5th Infantry Division as a breakthrough?  If this is the case, the follow-up troops of the Japanese army must be pressing forward. This may be the prelude to a large-scale attack by the Japanese army on the defense line of its own troops in the Calais Mountains!

    The confusion and ominous feeling that has been lingering in my mind should not exist. Two US infantry regiments can be fully equipped to strengthen a 155 mm caliber howitzer regiment and two tank regiments.  It caused heavy casualties, and the Japanese troops deployed at least one division. If the Fifth Infantry Division was not allowed to retreat, it would not take three days.  The troops will be exhausted!

    But once the Fifth Infantry Division retreats to Palapag.  This means that the entire defense line in the Calais Mountains will be forced to retreat across the board, next.  The depth of the battle defense that he had conceived became an empty talk. Stilwell suddenly felt a headache and it was difficult to make this determination.

    Stilwell thought for a moment and said to the communications staff: "Send a telegram immediately. Ask Major General Cindy Hall, commander of the 5th Infantry Division, how many troops were dispatched and other equipment when the Japanese attacked your division's defensive positions, and let him immediately send  Report the battle situation to the battle group headquarters! I'll be waiting at the headquarters!"

    The night is as dark as ink, and the sporadic sound of gunfire makes the night in the Calais Mountains look particularly sad and monotonous.  Stilwell was still thinking about his fleeting thoughts, but he couldn't connect them anyway.

    The adjutant, Major Higgs, held a windbreaker and looked at the sad-looking Stilwell.  He put it on him and said: "Your Majesty Commander, it's late at night and the fog is very heavy. I'm worried about your health, so why don't you go back to the headquarters?"

    Stilwell looked at this loyal adjutant who had followed him for many years.  He sighed inwardly. He was rejected by MacArthur and demoted to the Calais Mountains. His military career had almost reached its lowest point. However, the adjutant never left him and followed him to this battlefield where he could die at any time. Let him  Lonely and wandering, Stilwell was grateful from the bottom of his heart.

    He looked at the adjutant and said: "Higgs, thank you for always taking care of me. I don't know why, but I always have an ominous feeling in my heart. The Japanese army's attack has always been limited. Otherwise, we would not be able to survive."  In the Calais Mountains, they blocked the Japanese army for six days, and the Japanese army only had two divisions, the 103rd and 104th, in the battle. This is what I don¡¯t understand the most!¡±

    "Higgs, if the report from the Fifth Infantry Division is a prelude to the Japanese army launching a full-scale attack, my worries are unnecessary. Our days in the Calais Mountains will not be very long. Next, hundreds of thousands of  Elite Japanese soldiers will flock to Manila like a tide. In the chaos, any unexpected situation may happen. I, the commander, may lose my life at any time. Higgs, I want you to retire. No.  You must stay with me and wait for death on Luzon Island.¡±

    This was Stilwell's heartfelt words. His old subordinate who had been following him for many years should be given a good home. When the defense line in the Calais Mountains was broken through by the Japanese army, it was the day when the battle group was completely defeated. After hearing the words of the old officer, Higgs' eyes  , there seemed to be tears flashing across his face. Just as he was about to say something, the communications staff officer came over in a hurry. Higgs swallowed the words that were on his lips.

    Opening the telegram handed over by the communications staff, Stilwell was so angry that he almost vomited blood and cursed: "Asshole, what about the fierce Japanese attack? That's nonsense!"

    Telegraph?, Major General Cindy Hall, commander of the 5th Infantry Division, said: "The Japanese troops attacking the defensive positions of the 18th and 19th Infantry Regiments of our division were two regiments, equipped with large-caliber field artillery and a considerable number of tanks.  , the specific number is unknown, and there is no mention in the telegram as to why there are casualties.¡±

    Stilwell felt a sense of sadness in his heart. This is the U.S. Army, this is the American general. A division, facing the attack of two regiments of Japanese troops, was so panicked that it couldn't retreat, it was just running away!  Perhaps even the heavy casualties were fabricated?

    Stilwell angrily yelled at the communications staff: "Immediately convey my order, Major General Cindy Hall, commander of the 5th Infantry Division, your department must stick to the current defense line, and no retreat is allowed. Without my order,  If you leave the position without authorization, I don't mind executing you personally. Again, only my orders are the only ones, not Commander MacArthur's orders!"

    After recording the message from the commander in anger, the communications staff hurriedly ran away. Stilwell said sadly to Higgs: "Higgs, look, this is the force under my command, and this is our general.  , Higgs, I am very sad, when did the military of the United States of America become like this? "

    Adjutant Higgs hesitated for a moment, then plucked up the courage and said, "General, there is one thing I must tell you, otherwise, I will be sorry for you!"

    Stilwell looked at his adjutant in surprise, his eyes full of doubts, and of course encouragement. Higgs said: "Regarding the attack suffered by the Fifth Infantry Division this afternoon, based on the actual combat situation, I  Learned something from other sources!¡±

    "In fact, the attacking Japanese troops did not even have two regiments and were not equipped with tanks. The 18th and 19th Infantry Regiments suffered the greatest casualties. The only reason was that the 5th Infantry Division  The attached artillery regiment made an error in the coordinates of the bombardment instructions due to the forward troops. Most of the artillery shells hit our own positions. The casualties caused to the attacking Japanese troops were far less than our own casualties. Division Commander Sintihor concealed  If you don¡¯t retaliate, you¡¯re just trying to find a reason for yourself to retreat!¡±

    Stilwell's vision went dark. His tall body swayed a few times and almost fell. His heart began to throb violently. He absolutely believed that the adjutant who had followed him for many years would not lie to him, but it was still unbelievable.  Asked: "Higgs, with the honor of a soldier, you promise that you did not lie!"

    Higgs did not swear, but looked at the pale Stilwell calmly. Stilwell suddenly lost the courage to ask any more questions. His whole person seemed to be much older at this moment, and his expression was filled with pain.  And lonely.

    Suddenly, anger burned in Stilwell's eyes, and he said to the adjutant: "Higgs, I will definitely investigate this matter strictly. That Cindy Hall, I will personally send him to a military court and drive him out."  U.S. Army Corps, I must severely punish this scum before the end of my life!"

    Higgs just said lightly, "General, is this necessary? When dealing with a major general and division commander, you need to get approval from the headquarters!"

    Stilwell stopped talking. Higgs's words hit the deep pain in his heart. He could not deal with the scum division commander Major General Cindy Hall. MacArthur would not be able to pass this test. Although he was the commander, his authority was to direct operations.  In other words, he could only accept unconditionally whatever troops and troop commanders MacArthur sent to him.

    Stilwell lost all his strength. The U.S. troops in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific had rotted to such an extent. He was still ambitiously organizing battles one after another in an attempt to turn the tide. When he discovered that all of this was  The kind of disappointment and sadness when working hard in vain is enough to break a person's spiritual support!

    He thought he was a fighter, but in the eyes of others, he was an outright clown. Suddenly, the flash of thoughts in Stilwell's mind suddenly jumped out, and they were quickly connected into a clear result.  This should be an epiphany after deep disappointment and heartbreak.

    Stilwell completely understood that it was not how good his commanding skills were, nor how powerful the U.S. Army's combat effectiveness was. A routine attack by less than two regiments of Japanese troops actually frightened a fully-equipped Japanese army.  The commander of the infantry division did not hesitate to lie, conceal the true situation, abandon his position, and retreat to the rear. It is not a miracle that such a unit can hold off the Japanese army for five days, not at all!

    The Japanese did it intentionally, and the ominous feeling in Stilwell's heart became clear. Facing the U.S. troops that were defeated in one blow, the Japanese were not in a hurry to attack. They were brewing a huge trap, and the core of this trap was  , that is, on Luzon Island, it attracts U.S. troops, continuously consumes them, and then attracts local troops to come for reinforcements, achieving the purpose of gradually consuming U.S. military strength.

    ?Stilwell almost ran back to the headquarters and drove everyone out. He wanted to report his findings immediately to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, or even directly to the president.

    (To be continued).
Didn't finish reading? Add this book to your favoritesI'm a member and bookmarked this chapterCopy the address of this book and recommend it to your friends for pointsChapter error? Click here to report