MacArthur concluded that the Japanese simply did not dare to attack the Philippine Islands. The biggest reliance came from the US Pacific Fleet. If not counting the two super aircraft carriers "Yamato" and "Wuwei", the huge US fleet had nine battleships and three aircraft carriers. The total tonnage of the Pacific Fleet has exceeded the combined tonnage of all Japanese warships. It seems that as long as the Pacific Fleet exists, the Japanese will never dare to attack the Philippines and burn themselves out.
Is this really the case? MacArthur would never have imagined that just when he received the reconnaissance report that the Japanese Western Expedition Fleet was approaching Mindanao, the U.S. Pacific Fleet, which all Americans are proud of, was at the Japanese Combined Fleet. Howling and groaning under the ravages of carrier-based bombers,
The old American man looked as if nothing had happened. After reading the telegram, Guo Kui's expression became serious. He had dealt with the Japanese a lot and was used to the Japanese army not following common sense. He did not think that the U.S. Pacific Fleet, which was thousands of kilometers away from the Philippine Islands, was a threat to the Japanese army. How much deterrence will the Japanese have? This is one. The other thing he considers is that the Americans are fighting on their own soil, but the Second Expeditionary Army is a guest army. Unlike fighting in Southeast Asia, there are land lines of communication to ensure logistical supplies. In the Philippine Islands far away from the base of the Cadet Army, it was too difficult for the Cadet Army to obtain supplies. Based on the above considerations, he said to MacArthur: "Your Excellency MacArthur, I think it is better for General Brereton to prepare for the battle. Be prepared, the Japanese are very cunning, and the middle and senior officers outside often do things on their own, who knows if they have premeditated it."
The old American man disagreed: "It was premeditated. Ha, if the Japanese really had the guts, they should have launched it when we helped you evacuate overseas Chinese from Singapore. That time, they lost an aircraft carrier."
"The Japanese fleet has not breached the center line of the Sulu Sea before. I really have a bad feeling."
Guo Kui acted so seriously that the old American man thought for a while and said: "Then I will ask Brereton to strengthen reconnaissance. We have five army divisions in Mindanao, plus your two divisions, a total of Seven divisions, even if the Japanese army wants to launch a surprise attack, they can hold it in a short time." After saying this, he waved his adjutant Pace over and explained in this way,
The Americans didn't take it seriously at all. Guo Kui felt uneasy after thinking about it. He waved Zhang Liang over and asked him to call Hua Laifu and Huang Haifu, and ask the 17th Xuexiu Division and the 1st Mountain Division to prepare for war. The sudden Japanese attack
At that time and space, the Japanese army attacking the Philippine Islands was the 14th Army led by Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma. Its first attack direction was the Batan Islands north of Manila.
The arrival of Ouyang Yun and Koizumi Minichiro changed many things, such as the upcoming Battle of the Philippines. The Japanese army's attack direction this time was from west to east, completely overturning Ouyang Yun and Koizumi's memories of the "Philippine Campaign".
In the past, Manila was a key defense area for the US military, but now, the US military's defense center is placed on Mindanao and several surrounding islands. After the Japanese army successfully entered Southeast Asia, Yamamoto Isoroku and Koizumi Toshiichiro once discussed how to attack the Philippines. After several war games, and since Hainan Island and Taiwan Island were all controlled by the Xuebing Army, it was impossible to use them as a springboard for the Japanese army to attack the Philippine Islands. The two decided to attack Mindanao Island first, and then move from south to north after taking Mindanao Island. Push it step by step,
As time-travelers, Ouyang Yun and Koizumi Minichiro have many similarities, and because China and Japan lacked heavyweight ocean-going navies at the time, they both had the same dream more than once, that is, leading a large-scale fleet to attack a certain country. A hostile country, relying on his own efforts to change the fate of the country. At this time, on the island of the Japanese-Japanese expedition fleet "Ryujo" aircraft carrier, Koizumi stood holding the railing and facing the wind, feeling in his heart just because this dream had been realized. High-spirited,
Just like MacArthur thought that the Japanese would not dare to attack the Philippines easily, Koizumi Toshiichiro did not take the U.S. military stationed in the Philippines seriously at all. In his opinion, as long as he gave a thunderous blow at the beginning and caused heavy casualties to the U.S. military, then this battle would be "The most important thing in fighting the Americans is to beat them painfully from the beginning." From my understanding of the Americans, the Philippines is not indispensable to them, so once the casualties are over If it's serious, the U.S. government will definitely ask them to retreat." While the wind was blowing, he said to the people around him,
The generals of the Western Expedition Fleet who are qualified to stand next to him are on the left hand side the supreme commander of the naval aviation force Yamabekawa Sankeyi, the commander of the Second Army Soma Masafumi, and on the right hand side are the divisions of the Osaka Fourth Division. Nagasawa Tianshige and Takashima Kazuo, the captain of the aircraft carrier "Ryujo",
The Fourth Division just escaped from Hainan Island in embarrassment not long ago. It is said that this attack on the Philippines has nothing to do with them, but the world is so magical. The Fourth Division, which has always been proud of being greedy for life and afraid of death, and is known for being peace-loving, actually attacked them. Koizumi issued a strong call to join the war, but Koizumi valued his army status and believed that this could set a precedent for the navy to command the navy and army to cooperate in operations. He actually agreed to their request. Therefore, Sawada Shigeru supplemented about one division of Indonesian nationals. After the Independence Army, he was able to lead his army to participate in the war and became a force directly under the Western Expedition Fleet.
"Your Excellency, I still prefer to attack Manila first. The air force base and naval base of the US military stationed in the Philippines are both in Manila. As long as these two bases are destroyed, our army's casualties will be greatly reduced." Yamabekawa Sanjian said,
Among the four people standing next to Koizumi, the one whom Koizumi admires and trusts the most is Yamabe. For this reason, in Yamamoto’s absence
Now, only he can pour cold water on Xiao Quan,
"I also know the benefits of attacking Manila first, but without a midway supply station, don't you think the route is too long? I really don't know what happened to Xiaolin Jizo, who actually allowed the Xuebing Army to gain a foothold in Taiwan. , if all of Taiwan is in our hands, of course we will use Taiwan as a springboard to attack Manila first." Most of Taiwan is occupied by the cadet army, which is an unbearable humiliation for the Japanese officers present, Koizumi said After saying this, his face became heavy and his eyes narrowed slightly, with a cold light shining in them.
The atmosphere on the island became a little heavy. Masafumi Soma tried to calm down and said, "I wonder how Yamamoto-dono is doing."
Traveling thousands of kilometers to attack Pearl Harbor, this topic made Koizumi and others' blood rush. Everyone's attention was immediately drawn to this topic. Koizumi said: "Seven aircraft carriers, nearly 500 fighter planes, Even if the U.S. Pacific is prepared, it will definitely achieve success. Gentlemen, please don't worry about Pearl Harbor. Instead, think about how to make a quick victory and fulfill Yamamoto-dono's entrustment to us."
"Hai." Yamabe and the other four people responded in unison. When they raised their heads, their gazes all shot into the distance.