The Philippine campaign was Koizumi's first battle. Sawada Shigeru could understand his eagerness for success. Koizumi opened his heart to him. The old Japanese was touched and really wanted to help Koizumi. But the problem was that his subordinates were not up to par, so even though he had the intention, he failed To be honest, the old Japanese army is right to fight a protracted war. The Philippines is too far away from the jurisdiction of the Cadet Army, and the supply of the Second Cadet Expeditionary Army is difficult. The Japanese army has Singapore and Malaysia within easy reach. It would definitely be beneficial to the Japanese army to have Indonesia as a backing, and it would definitely be beneficial to the Japanese if it took a long time. However, Koizumi did not realize this. When he thought about it, the combat effectiveness of the 4th Brigade was no longer good, but it would be no good if the elite aviation force of Yamabegawa Sankey provided support. It can consume enough troops of the Xuebing Army. By then, even if the Xuebing Army intends to defend Kapatagan, but when Soma Masabumi's troops come from the north, the Xuebing Army will face the dilemma of being surrounded in central Mindanao. , by that time, the Philippine Campaign will inevitably have a glorious ending,
Because of this idea, he could not understand Sawada Shigeru's "confidence" at all. Instead, he sighed to Hatano: "Lian Po is old." Then he said: "The Fourth Division is not of much use. It seems that the only option is to let the Sakamoto detachment Come on, go and invite General Sakamoto and Yamabe-kun."
The Sakamoto detachment belongs to Soma Masafumi's Second Marine Corps. It was originally used by Koizumi as a garrison for the Western Expedition Fleet headquarters. However, now, after realizing that the fourth brigade is simply not enough to capture Kapatagan , Koizumi couldn't hold himself back and was directly preparing to put this unit into the battlefield.
While the war was raging in the Capatagan area, the Americans' preparations for retreat in Manila entered a substantive stage. It is really ironic to say that two days ago, the Americans were still preparing for the "dividing territories and defending" plan and training soldiers. The army was so preoccupied, but then they completely abandoned the defense. Their change of attitude was faster than turning the page of a book. It can be called a miracle in military history.
At about four o'clock in the morning the next day, on Corregidor Island in Manila Bay, a huge mushroom cloud suddenly rose into the sky, followed by a series of violent explosions. The Filipinos who were shocked by the light and sound looked over in shock. The first reaction of few people was: Has the volcano erupted, while insiders sighed sadly: The Americans even destroyed the fortress and fort on Corregidor Island. It seems that they are really going to give up on the Philippines.
At the same time, it was not just the fortress on Corregidor Island that was exploded. Violent explosions occurred in many places in the Philippine Islands. Mushroom clouds rose one after another. These coastal defenses symbolized the US military presence. The forts were destroyed one by one by the Americans, which seemed to indicate the arrival of a new era.
When there was a violent explosion on Corregidor Island, the Hosho aircraft carrier fleet led by Masafumi Soma was only about 80 kilometers away from the place. Alarmed by the explosion, the old devil immediately got up and walked out of the cabin, and then he followed the sound of the explosion. Looking in the direction from which it came, I saw a dazzling fireball flashing in the northeast. I couldn't help shouting: "The Americans don't even want the fort. It seems they really want to escape without a fight. Honda, give it to the commander immediately." The official sent a message that we will launch an attack on Manila Bay immediately, otherwise MacArthur may escape."
Hiroshi Honda Matsumoto was Souma's adjutant. He shouted "Hai" and hurried to the telecommunications room.
When a shocking explosion occurred on Corregidor Island, MacArthur was standing in front of his residence in Manila and watching dreamily. The old American man was a good-looking man. After self-defense and naval battles, even though he knew that the US military had lost the battle with the Japanese. He has the ability to continue fighting, and has received telegrams from the White House and Marshall asking him to evacuate to Australia first, but at least on the surface he is still very resistant to evacuating the Philippines. After returning to Manila, he frequently went to the front line to condolences to the officers and soldiers stationed there, even in public. He did not mention the evacuation of the Philippines at all, but vowed to coexist and die with Manila, and to give the Japanese army a head-on attack in Manila. Although these statements of his did not fundamentally change the unfavorable situation of the war situation in the Philippines against the United States and the Philippines, they did To a large extent, it has played a role in boosting the morale of the people.
His performance came to an end after the US military headquarters in the Philippines deciphered a telegram sent by the Combined Fleet to the Western Expedition Fleet. Under the instruction of Yamamoto, the Combined Fleet Command sent a telegram to Koizumi Toshiichiro, ordering him to He wanted to capture MacArthur alive at all costs and said he would hang Americans in the Imperial Palace Square in Tokyo.
After the content of this telegram was transmitted back to Washington, President Roosevelt and Army Chief of Staff Marshall became anxious. They called MacArthur frequently to urge him to evacuate to Australia. In order to comfort the old man, they even appointed him as the commander-in-chief of the Southwest Pacific Allied Forces Command, which had not yet revealed its horoscope. commander,
Soma Masafumi's Hosho aircraft carrier fleet suddenly left the Sulu Sea and advanced toward Manila Bay. The Americans finally panicked. After obtaining the consent of Washington, Sutherland, the chief of staff of the U.S. military stationed in the Philippines, took over the retreat and first recalled the frontline troops to the Manila, and then ordered the blasting of the coastal defense fort fortress.
The forts on Corregidor Island were the U.S. military's largest weapon in defending Manila Bay. As these forts were blown up, even though MacArthur still wanted to fulfill his vow to live and die with Manila, he lost the capital to fight the Japanese army to the end. Faced with the cruel reality, the old man finally compromised, but insisted on waiting until the fort was blown up before getting on the bus and heading to Din Alan Bay.
The "rumbling" explosion gradually dissipated, and the mushroom cloud on Corregidor Island turned into thick smoke and drifted away in the wind. MacArthur straightened his military hat, solemnly performed a military salute, and vowed: "I will be back. , I swear, it won’t be long before I lead my army to fight back.”
The Philippine Islands is the largest colony of the United States in the Far East. It is known as the "Pacific fruit bowl" in the hearts of Americans. It is regarded by Americans as an existence like their own backyard. Therefore, in the plan formulated by the White House, MacArthur's retreat is Strategically, the purpose is to fight back as soon as possible. MacArthur knows the White House's plan, so these words are not empty talk.
However, because of the two butterflies Ouyang Yun and Koizumi Toshiichiro appearing out of thin air, the Americans even lost the Pacific Fleet. Do they really have any hope of fighting back as soon as possible?
When Koizumi received the telegram from Souma Masabumi asking for battle, he was discussing the day's battle plan with the captains of the Sakamoto detachment, Takashi Sakamoto and Sankey Yamabekawa. After listening to Hatano finish reading the telegram, he stood up with a "chun" and said: " The Americans actually blew up the fort on Corregidor Island. Ha, God helps me." Then he frowned and said sternly: "Return the call immediately and ask the Hosho aircraft carrier fleet to launch an attack immediately. Remind Commander Soma, yes It’s time to use the spirit of Yamato, MacArthur, we must not let him escape.”
"Hai."
(Old poisoner: I have a severe headache. I used it for two days in a row to save the manuscript. I probably won’t be able to get hard on Monday. Please forgive me, brothers.)