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: Songhua River Chapter 1684: MacArthur's Battle of Manila (Part 2)

Previous page        Return to Catalog        Next page

    General Fernandez, the commander-in-chief of the British Army in Australia, was cursing the arrogant American MacArthur for refusing to listen to his own good advice and had to send more troops to the death place of Luzon Island to let his troops die.  Fortunately, fortunately, this American did not have the lion's voice and left 60,000 troops for himself. Otherwise, the huge Australian continent would have been an empty city.

    If the Japanese come over, how can they resist the crazy Japanese soldiers? But the assembly of 100,000 troops requires a lot of work. General Fernandez, while giving the British and Australian troops scattered throughout Australia, issued an emergency assembly order.  At the same time, he sent a telegram to MacArthur explaining the actual situation. One week was not enough to assemble 100,000 troops. Logistics and supplies alone would take several days!

    MacArthur's reply was very simple, just two words: "No!" It would take a week, that is, August 16th, to see British and Australian soldiers land on Luzon Island and make General Fernandez yell in anger.  "What the hell! They are all soldiers. Is it such an easy thing to assemble a hundred thousand troops? MacArthur touched his upper and lower lips and said it lightly. I'm so busy that I'm smoking!"

    The officer in charge of troop assembly and logistics of the British-Australian army also complained to General Fernandez. This British gentleman's bull temper also came up. Isn't this a damn thing that forces people to do something difficult? Why don't you just give a dead pig and not be afraid of boiling water? Your MacArthur order?  Just think of it as fart, I will assemble the troops at my own speed and finally send troops. Why, you, a Yankee, can still come to Australia to bite me?

    MacArthur has no choice but to worry.  In a hurry, the Japanese mobilized their troops and generals, obviously putting on a posture of big fight, not the previous small fight. When Major General Whiteman, commander of the Third Army, reported the situation,  Everything on the phone changed.

    It is true that he is his confidant, but MacArthur still knows how much Whiteman has, relying on his ability.  Holding the blocking line in the Calais Mountains and blocking the Japanese outside Manila is a big joke. According to my own estimation, the Third Army is under the command of Whiteman.  It can withstand the Japanese for a week at most.

    So, MacArthur gave General Fernandez the order.  It's also a week.  This was already a well-planned plan, but there was a problem in one link. For example, the Third Army quickly became unable to hold on under the fierce attack of the Japanese Army and retreated from the Calais Mountains.  For another example, Fernandez's British-Australian troops did not arrive on the Luzon battlefield on time, and the situation in the Manila Defense War was not optimistic.

    After comprehensively measuring the battlefield situation in Luzon Island.  MacArthur personally called Commander Whiteman and said, "Whiteman, you were promoted by me. I have high hopes for you and the Third Army. I have ordered 100,000 British and Australian troops in Australia to rush to Luzon Island urgently."  The battlefield, but they need time, so, Whiteman, your troops must block the Japanese army in the Calais Mountains for a week or ten days. No matter how many casualties it takes, we must persist!"

    "You also know that before the British and Australian army reinforcements arrived on Luzon Island, your defense line was broken through by the Japanese army. What it means to Manila, which is short of troops, to you and me and the nearly 200,000 US Army soldiers, the whole world  If the army is destroyed, we will either become prisoners of the Japanese or die without a burial place. You should be aware of the seriousness of the situation. Dear Whiteman, this is my great trust to you and the hope of the American soldiers for you. When you complete  After the blocking mission"", I will greet you personally in Manila!"

    "In order to prevent the Third Army from suffering too many losses, I will order the First Air Force of the theater to dispatch all fighter planes to fully support your troops and defend the Mount Calais defense line. Whiteman, do you have any other requests?  "

    On the other end of the phone, Major General Whiteman was silent for a long time. MacArthur held the receiver of the phone and waited patiently without urging. It seemed that he was giving his trusted subordinates time to think about it. In fact, the fire in his heart had grown from two people.  He could hear the sound of blood coming out of his nostrils, the blood vessels on his temples, and the "bounce" beating.

    It was not that MacArthur had not thought about using extremely strict orders to impose requirements on Whiteman, ordering him to hold on to the Calais Mountains for more than a week, just like other subordinates. However, he was worried that it would scare him. Originally,  , the pressure placed on him by the Japanese had already made a dignified U.S. Army major general who commanded 70,000 to 80,000 troops become nervous and a little nervous. If he issued orders according to routine, Whiteman might collapse!

    If Whiteman really collapses, for a while, he will find that general to take his place. Therefore, Commander-in-Chief MacArthur can only play the family card, state the interests, and induce the subordinates like Ji Ji.  Teachers with professional ethics treat students more like responsible teachers.A bad parent treats timid children.

    It had been more than ten minutes since we arrived. General MacArthur, who was good-tempered for the first time, almost lost his patience. Commander Whiteman finally had something to say. It is estimated that during this time, he had discussed ideas with his officers.  .

    Whiteman said: "Commander-in-Chief, I will definitely carry out your orders." Chapter 1,684 of Rebirth of the Battle Years MacArthur's Defense of Manila (Part 2)" Do your best to command your troops and block the Japanese army.  By the stipulated time, I can¡¯t guarantee whether I can complete the mission. Also, when my troops are in danger of being divided and surrounded by the Japanese army, you must let my soldiers withdraw to Manila. In addition, the first battle zone  The first aviation force must be placed under my command to ensure that our front-line troops can receive air fire support at any time!¡±

    This was a naked condition, or a disguised threat. MacArthur gritted his teeth in his heart, but he agreed openly, "Yes, Whiteman, I can meet all your demands. Please believe me.  I will not joke with the lives of more than 70,000 soldiers of the Third Army!"

    After putting down the phone, MacArthur felt unspeakable fatigue. He was already disappointed with this Whiteman. In his most difficult time, such a person not only could not share the pressure for himself, but also had to cheer him up with sincerity. Waiting for Manila  After the defense war ended, Whiteman could no longer stay in the position of commander of the Third Army, so he was asked to go to the logistics department and serve as an idle one.

    At this moment, Major General Whiteman's fate has been decided by his superiors. However, it is still unknown whether he will still be able to run back to Manila or, in other words, when the Battle of Manila is over. Yanzaburo Ito has already  With fierce eyes, he opened his huge mouth, preparing to swallow more than 70,000 troops of the U.S. Third Army in the Calais Mountains.

    "What would happen if the third army was commanded by that unruly guy Stilwell? At the very least, he wouldn't let himself be so worried, and he could also complete his mission with minimal loss.  Order, if he is not killed in action, I don¡¯t have to worry about the battle in the Calais Mountains. That guy has the ability to take charge of his own affairs." MacArthur suddenly thought of General Stilwell, and was quite concerned about the national calamity. "Rebirth of the Battle Years" General  Meaning!

    "Regret? You shouldn't have sent an outstanding but disobedient chief of staff to the front line to use Japanese hands to remove the stumbling blocks." Of course, these little regrets only passed through his mind.  , not even a trace was left. Immediately, MacArthur smiled self-deprecatingly and tried to expel this rather absurd sadness from his mind. Is it necessary to be sad for someone who is not on the same path as him and who is always against him?  ?

    At 4 o'clock in the morning on August 10th, General Ito Yanzaburo, the commander-in-chief of Japan's Southwest Pacific Expeditionary Force, commanded his 130,000 troops, divided into five lines, on the defense line of the U.S. Third Army's Calais Mountains, which stretched for 100 years.  A fierce attack was launched from a front of more than one kilometer. The battlefield in the Calais Mountains was immediately filled with the roar of artillery and gunshots. On Luzon Island, hundreds of thousands of Japanese soldiers who had been holding back for two months launched an attack on the US position like mad dogs.  Wave after wave of attacks.

    The 103rd, 104th, 108th and 109th Divisions of the 14th Army of the Japanese Army were the two main attacking forces. Under the cover of artillery fire from four artillery regiments, they attacked the Calais Mountains.  Lucena and Caravag were the main assault directions, and they carried out continuous fierce attacks. They were the nodes of the US defense line in the Calais Mountains and a ruthless force that could kill the US Third Army.

    If the Japanese army captures Lucena and Karavag, it will cut off the defense line of the US Third Army in the middle, dividing the US military's more than 70,000 troops into two unrelated parts: east and west. Then, the Japanese army  The troops of the Fourteenth Army, crossing in the left and right directions in a wide arc and taking the rear route, will definitely be able to encircle and annihilate the entire U.S. Third Army in the Calais Mountains.

    Ito Yanzaburo's tactical vision can be described as ruthless. It is not a reckless front-line push-like attack. When the "entertainment show" has the advantage in both the quality and morale of the soldiers, he chose a team that can attack the smallest enemy at the fastest speed.  The price, the way to end the Battle of Calais Theater, was to hit the door of the US Third Army.

    Major General Whiteman, commander of the U.S. Third Army, even though he was incompetent and timid, could see Ito Yanzaburo's intentions. In the entire Calais Mountains defense line, only Lucena and Caravag were the most intense fighting areas.  Commander Whiteman simply made a desperate move and invested the two units of the US Ninth Division, which was used as a battle reserve, and the Philippine Army's Manila Du Lijing Reserve Brigade, in these two directions.

    Relying on superior strength and supported by hundreds of fighters and bombers from the First Air Force of the US Southwest Pacific Theater, the fierce battle lasted until about seven o'clock that night, and finally the Japanese advance was repulsed. The US military did not lose an inch of position. However, the US military  The casualties were greater than MacArthur and Whiteman had expected.

      In just one day of fierce fighting, the Third Army suffered casualties of more than 10,000 soldiers. This was just the beginning. In the following days, for the soldiers of the US Third Army, they truly realized what  Call it beastly madness!

    (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