mtl008 Chapter 548: Second Landing Point
Chapter 548: Second Landing Point
548 Second Landing Point
"What, position number two was lost?
What do you do for a living, you rubbish! "
boom!
Stilwell threw the phone in his hand, his face was as gloomy as water and looked very ugly.
“I just don’t understand why our defensive forces are more than twice as many as the attacking Japanese forces.
The firepower suppressed them even more.
Why, why was the position breached so quickly?
This… this is unbelievable.”
Stilwell roared, venting his inner anger, completely devoid of the smile and optimism of yesterday.
In just one night, the British army's shore defense line was not only shaky, but also had a gap.
This was something Stilwell could never have dreamed of.
"Let the reserve troops in the rear send a regiment over.
We must recapture the lost No. 2 position from the Japanese army.
We must not allow the enemy to gain a foothold and must drive them back into the sea."
A moment later, Stilwell gave an order to use the few reserve troops he had to retake position No. 2.
At this moment, Stilwell did not realize how serious the consequences of losing this No. 2 position would be.
The hundreds of deserters who escaped from the No. 2 position made too much noise.
They even engaged in a direct gunfight with the British army supervision team that was supervising the battle from behind.
The news that the No. 2 position was breached by the Japanese was subsequently heard by the British troops and Indians in other positions.
"It's over. The enemy has breached position number two."
Many Indian soldiers shouted in horror.
Fear is contagious.
The news of the loss of Position No. 2 caused the psychological defenses of the soldiers in other surrounding British defensive positions to collapse.
Especially those Indian soldiers, they were already holding on under the strong pressure from other British veterans and officers.
Now, the defense line has been breached, which has become the last straw that breaks the camel's back.
Subsequently, a large number of Indian soldiers fled from other British defensive positions.
The supervision team is too busy to handle it.
A thousand-mile dam collapsed due to an ant hole!
Even Stilwell's reserve troops were sent out, but not only did they fail to recapture the lost No. 2 position.
On the contrary, the gap opened by the Japanese is getting bigger.
In addition, two infantry regiments of the Japanese Fifth Division were also deployed to the battlefield.
The situation on the battlefield deteriorated rapidly.
"Commander, the reinforcement regiment still failed to recapture position No. 2.
In addition, a large number of deserters appeared at the nearby No. 3 position.
The fleeing soldiers also exchanged fire with the supervisory team."
At twelve o'clock in the morning, a US military staff officer came to Stilwell and reported the latest news.
"Farke, Farke!"
Stilwell cursed angrily.
He really didn't know how to express his anger at the incompetence of the British troops on the front line.
"General, how about letting me lead the troops up there?
I promise to take back position number two."
Alex, the American division commander next to him, couldn't bear to watch it anymore.
Said to Stilwell.
"No, this is not your mission."
But Stilwell shook his head.
Stilwell transferred this American division here mainly to help him maintain order.
But it is not used to fight the Japanese.
Besides, the 100,000 British troops on the front line have fought the war to this point.
I'm afraid sending more of Alex's American division won't be of much use.
Moreover, most of the soldiers in this US Army division are new recruits, so their combat effectiveness will not be very strong.
Stilwell didn't want this American division to be wiped out here.
Soon, more bad news came.
By three o'clock in the afternoon on May 2, the British army had set up seven blocking positions along the coastline more than ten kilometers south of Yangon.
Two have been lost.
Stilwell's plan to drive the Japanese back into the sea was a complete failure.
At this time, the 20,000 Japanese soldiers and more than 30,000 Japanese traitors from the 25th Army, who were sent by Yamashita Tomoyuki to forcibly land in the waters south of Rangoon, were all thrown into the battlefield.
The British army's defense line was poked with holes one after another.
On the battlefield, there were even organized Indian vassal troops that surrendered to the Japanese.
Bad news comes one after another.
This caught Stilwell off guard, and he realized something was wrong.
The rapid collapse of the British troops on the front line was definitely not a problem of manpower, equipment or command.
It's a question of morale.
"General, we can't wait any longer, order a retreat immediately.
Gather the troops, retreat to the second line of defense, and reorganize the troops.
There is still a chance to stop the Japanese army.
The battle situation here is irreversible.
If we continue to delay, it will only get worse.”
Alex suggested to Stilwell.
At this time, Stilwell was still unwilling to give in.
He felt very aggrieved.
It's only been one day.
The main force of 100,000 British troops relied on the shore defense line, but they only held out for one day and one night before their defense line was breached by the Japanese army.
This is such a shame.
Stilwell still wanted to hold on and save the situation.
However, at four o'clock in the afternoon, another piece of news came and completely made Stilwell give up this idea.
"General, this is bad.
Two hours ago, another Japanese fleet opened up a second landing point in the Sema area 60 kilometers to the west.
Logged in successfully.
Now, two Japanese vanguard troops have headed north.
Kill them all the way towards Zelun Town, and march all the way towards Daizhi."
An American staff officer rushed into the headquarters, holding a telegram, and shouted to Stilwell with an anxious look on his face.
"Walter?"
Stilwell took back the telegram and after reading it, he felt a chill down his spine.
He didn't expect that the troops that landed in Rangoon were not all of the Japanese troops.
Yamashita Tomoyuki also sent out a group of people to complete the landing sixty kilometers to the west of them.
Then, the Japanese troops who landed from this second landing point went straight northward and headed straight for the rear of the 100,000 British troops defending in Rangoon.
This is to cut off the retreat of the 100,000 main British troops in Rangoon.
If the Japanese really succeeded, I dare not even think about the consequences.
"Fuck,"
Stilwell did not dare to delay and immediately ordered: "The entire army retreats.
Let the First Division stay behind to cover the rear, and the other divisions retreat in an orderly manner."
Although Stilwell issued an order for the British army to retreat in an orderly manner.
However, Stilwell had no hope that these British troops would be able to do it in the end.
“Alex, you must lead your troops to Daizhi immediately and defend it.
Ensure our army's retreat route and never let the Japanese army occupy it.
Then notify the defenders of Zelun Town to move south to resist another group of Japanese troops moving north.
Make sure our second line of defense is intact.”
Stilwell said, looking at Alex.
"Yes, General.
I'll be leaving right away."
Alex saluted and immediately rushed out of Stilwell's command post.
The American division under his command was also a mechanized unit and marched very quickly.
It was enough to get ahead of the Japs and block the retreat route of the main British army.
"General, you should withdraw as well.
It’s not safe here anymore.”
The staff officer of the headquarters said to Stilwell.
"Hey! Let's retreat!"
Stilwell sighed and rushed to the airport.
(Ask for some free gifts!)