Beiyang reactionaries

In the Battle of Myitkyina, Japan's heavy artillery was limited.Forcibly crossing the Chindun River, the Japanese soldiers didn't even bring much food.What's more, there are fewer heavy weapons.In comparison, the British and Indian troops in Imphal have all types of cannons.

But look what a battle is being fought.

It took the Japanese army 12 days to capture Imphal.Imphal's troops are completely vulnerable, and even the 50th Tank Brigade of the British and Indian Army, as the fist unit of the 11th Army of the British and Indian Army, should have become a model for the 11th Army.However, after the outbreak of the Battle of Imphal, they only resisted for a while before surrendering, which dealt a very heavy blow to the British and Indian troops in Imphal.In fact, if the defenders of Imphal persist for a while, needless to say the ammunition and logistical supplies they want, even the troops can be airborne.

Because a large number of American air teams have come to India.

After the United States received the request from the United Kingdom, it has dispatched more than 200 aircraft within half a month, most of which are transport aircraft.With the strength of the U.S. transport force, these 200 transport planes will be deployed, and the logistical support for tens of thousands of troops in Imphal will be very easy.Mountbatten has even negotiated with the United States to send [-] troops to Imphal.And this is the first batch, and the United States is still receiving a steady stream of air force support.Not only did Marshall happily agree to the UK to provide them with ten squadrons of transport aircraft.

And also promised to send 21 bomber squadrons and 19 fighter squadrons.

This made Britain very happy.

50 aviation squadrons, about 1000 or more aircraft.These U.S. pilots are very good pilots. If they help the British and Indian troops, they are likely to be able to gain air supremacy.

However, a large number of American transport planes were transferred to India, and Imphal had fallen before they had time to act.

"This is not your problem, don't think too much about it. What we have to think about now is how to fight back."

Wavell reassures Mountbatten.

Mountbatten did not come at a good time.The Battle of Myitkyina was lost, and Mountbatten came over to turn the tide.But it hasn't played much yet, and the Battle of Imphal launched by the Japanese army has also achieved great success.Almost all of Northeastern India fell into the hands of the Japanese within a month.At present, in northeastern India, only Guwahati still has troops resisting, which hits Mountbatten very hard.

But Wavell can't let Mountbatten lose confidence.

After all, Mountbatten has just served as the commander-in-chief of the Far East Allied Forces, and this series of failures has nothing to do with Mountbatten.Mountbatten must cheer up and change the current passive situation.

"General Mountbatten, do you have a plan to change the current situation? Now is not the time for us to blame others, we must come up with some solutions."

"Marshal, I have already made a plan. I am going to take three steps."

"Tell me."

Wavell is now the Governor of India, responsible for the whole of India.Including dealing with powerful factions in India, training troops in India, and ensuring the logistics of frontline troops.

As for how to fight, it has been handed over to Mountbatten to command.

"First, Guwahati must not be lost. This will become the most important point for our counterattack in the future. Therefore, I plan to use airlift troops to send supplies to Guwahati and troops to Guwahati. My thoughts The 11th Division of the 19th Army and the 2nd Army of the Far East Army were transported by air to Guwahati within ten days. The 19th Division, 21st Division, and 2nd Army were used to form the Guwahati Army. Let 11 General Skunas of Army Group is the commander of the Guwahati Regiment."

"Ah."

Wavell looked at the map and nodded.

Originally, Guwahati was not a very important place.But now most of the northeastern part of India has fallen into the hands of Japan. After a large number of British and Indian troops took refuge in Chandra Bose's Indian National Army, the situation in eastern India is already precarious.The eastern Indian cities of Imphal, Kohima, and Dimapur all fell into the hands of Japan, which made Guwahati's position prominent.

Once Guwahati can't hold it, the Japanese troops will drive straight in.

"I have already contacted the Nepalese side. It is planned to reorganize the troops currently owned by the Nepalese side into an independent brigade, and organize it as the [-]st Nepalese Independent Brigade. If you agree, let this army go directly to Guwahati. "

"That's better."

Mountbatten nodded.

The Nepalese First Division had come to Calcutta, and Mountbatten had seen their training.This army is indeed an elite army, or this nation in Nepal is indeed good at fighting.Now there is another independent brigade from Nepal, which is good for Guwahati's defense.Now Mountbatten is short of people, as long as there are troops, he welcomes them.

"Second, immediately organize troops to counterattack Dhaka."

Mountbatten pointed to Dhaka, and said: "The Japanese army poured into India, but they didn't have enough ammunition and logistics supplies. The Japanese army's logistics support capabilities are relatively poor. They always use local materials in wars, and they grab them wherever they go. Where to. We counterattack Dhaka, not to directly defeat the Japanese army. The Japanese army has a strong fighting force and a large number of people. It is very difficult to deal with them head-on in a short time, and we will pay a lot of casualties. So we have to What they did was to cut off their logistical supplies. So many troops flooded into this area, what did they eat and drink. The Japanese army is not a well-disciplined army. Their logistical supplies can't keep up, and they can only grab places at that time Yes. The Interim Government of Free India established by Chandra Bose has a great influence. It currently takes the liberation of India as its banner and attracts many young people. If the Japanese army looted a city like Dhaka, I think he will pay What face does De La Boss have to call himself the leader of the national liberation movement. I will see if those young people who follow him will continue to worship him and follow him."

Dhaka is more than simply a big city.

Dhaka is a very important city in South Asia, known as the "City of Mosques".Dhaka was later the capital of Bangladesh, which was part of Pakistan before the establishment of Bangladesh.Because Bangladesh mainly believes in Islam and is a place where Muslims gather, it belonged to Pakistan when India and Pakistan were partitioned.In addition to Islam, there are many people who believe in Buddhism here.

This place has a long history. It became an important city in South Asia as early as 500 years ago, and its influence is also very large.If the Japanese army looted such an important city due to lack of logistical supplies, it would be notorious.

Surely Chandra Bose's reputation would be ruined as well.

Wavell smiled.

Mountbatten is really smart, or as a naval general, he is so politically astute.Under the current situation of such a passive situation, thinking about not only military issues, but also political issues.

Already thinking about how to hit Chandra Bose.It is really because after he entered India with his troops, too many British and Indian troops turned against him.This situation must be prevented from continuing.

"Are you sure they're going to loot Dhaka?"

"Most definitely."

Mountbatten nodded.

He smiled and said: "The Japanese army poured in so many troops, and after Chandra Bose entered India, the troops expanded rapidly. At present, their troops in Dhaka have about 12 people, and the number is still increasing A large number of people is of course a good thing, but what do so many people eat and drink. The logistics of the Japanese army is not good. A place for Muslims. People here don’t necessarily support Chandra Bose, what’s the logistics for them. How will they live when they don’t have food or drink, and looting places.”

"What about the third?"

Wavell agreed with Mountbatten's ideas, and even supported Mountbatten very much.

Therefore, I would like to hear Mountbatten's views.

"Third, bomb Chittagong. I want to completely cut off the Japanese army's retreat. We didn't have enough conditions before, but now with the help of the US military, we can completely bomb Chittagong. Without sea supplies, the Japanese army's logistics will be even worse. It became a problem. And it also cut off the way for Japan to retreat in the future. Without a sea retreat route, they can only retreat eastward. As long as they retreat eastward, there is the Chindun River blocking them, then they will not be able to escape.”

"Chindun River?"

737

"Chindun River?"

"Correct."

Mountbatten pointed to the Chindoon River Road: "Marshal, look. The Chindoon River is not a creek. It is usually more than 3000 feet (1000 meters) wide, and the current is also fast. After it rains, the water of the Chindoon River will skyrocket. There will be more than 4000 feet, and even 5000 feet in severe cases. The existence of the Chindun River directly separates the Japanese army in Myanmar from the Japanese army entering India, creating a gap between them. The Japanese army in Myanmar wants to support The Japanese army entering India must cross the Chindun River. It is precisely because of the existence of the Chindun River that the Japanese army’s logistics supply problem will be more serious. Similarly, if the Japanese army wants to retreat, it must also cross the Chindun River. The transportation of the Japanese army It is impossible for the Japanese army to cross the Chindun River easily. As a result, the Japanese army’s logistics supplies on the front line will not be available, and it will be very difficult for the Japanese army to retreat in the future. Therefore, our solution is to drive the Japanese army to the edge of the Chindun River. .”

Wavell looked at Mountbatten and nodded slightly.

The current situation is so difficult and passive, but Mountbatten is obviously full of confidence and has a complete plan.Mountbatten's current attitude is very clear, that is, he believes that there is no problem in defeating the Japanese army.This is the Mountbatten that Wavell wanted to see.

Mountbatten is the commander-in-chief of the Far East Allied Forces. If he loses confidence, the subsequent loss will be difficult.Fortunately, Mountbatten is so upbeat.

"Then what's the most important thing now?"

Since Mountbatten was not affected by the current situation at all, but full of confidence, Wavell must of course do his logistical work well.So Wavell directly asked Mountbatten, what is the most important thing now.

In fact, it is to ask Mountbatten what help he needs now.

"Ammunition, supplies."

Mountbatten said directly: "Whether it is us or the Japanese army, there is a lack of supplies. Before the British and Indian troops bought Chinese supplies to solve logistical problems, but that was only limited to the British and Indian troops in Burma. Now we are in India Fighting in the territory can only hope for the support of the mainland and the United States. But now Germany is rampant in Europe, and the mainland has no power to support us. The same is true for the United States. At present, the Americans are pinned down by the Japanese army in the Pacific Ocean. Since the Panama Canal was bombed by the Japanese army After the destruction of the U.S. military, the situation in the Pacific Ocean became even more difficult. In order to get rid of this situation, the U.S. military had to bypass Cape Horn to supplement the Pacific Fleet, wasting a lot of resources. Moreover, the U.S. military and Japanese troops continued to clash around the Hawaiian Islands, and the daily casualties were very high. The amount of materials consumed is astonishing. I think it will take a long time for the United States to support our materials. We don’t have that much time.”

After Mountbatten came to India, he has been studying how to restore the current situation during this period.

So everything is well understood.